Stila In The Light Palette

top row l to r: Bare, Kitten, Bliss, Sunset, Sandstone
bottom row l to r: Champagne, Gilded Gold, Luster, Night Sky, Ebony

top row l to r: Bare, Kitten, Bliss, Sunset, Sandstone
bottom row l to r: Champagne, Gilded Gold, Luster, Night Sky, Ebony

One of the downsides of being makeup obsessed is that sometimes (or quite often), great products go unused. This is an example for me - I purchased this palette over a year ago, I believe in early 2012. I then used it a couple times and then sort of forgot about it. 

Lately, however, it seems like this palette has become a lot more popular, as I have been seeing it pop up on several blogs. This has inspired me to pull it out and get some well-deserved use out of it!

In The Light has an assortment of neutrals, that range from your light highlighting shades to your dramatic shades for a smokey eye, or to be used as eyeliner. There is also a mixture of both shimmers and mattes. Included in the palette is the oh-so-popular Kitten, which I personally have gone through two pans, and currently have a back-up in my collection. You also get a Smudge Stick Eyeliner in Damsel, which is a dark brown. 

Here is a very simple everyday eye that I often wear using this palette:

I used Bliss allover the lid and blended into the crease and then a mixture of Sunset and Gilded Gold to slightly darken the outer V and then pulled down under the lower lashline. I highlighted with Bare. The liquid liner is Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eyeliner in Cognac, and the mascara is Clinique High Impact.

Of course this palette is extremely versatile in that the above look is for everyday, but you can also create a very dramatic evening look as well.

Have you tried this palette?

Thanks for reading!

Product Review - Stila Smudge Crayon

So here is another Stila product review. I have really been loving my Stila products lately - both new products, as well a older ones that I have rediscovered in my collection. The Stila Smudge Crayon is a waterproof eye primer, shadow, and liner in one. It is one of those multi-purpose eye products that is supposed to do it all for you! I would say these are along the lines of the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils or the Tarte SmolderEyes Amazonian Clay liners (the chubby ones).

I believe this is a relatively newish product from Stila. I believe I got my first one back in early 2012. Since then, I have accumulated four different colours and they are all gorgeous!

The colours I have are:

• Umber - A deep reddish brown, on the burgandy side. 
• Pink Violet - Just like the name says, a pinkish violet. Really pretty on brown eyes.
• Smoke - The first one I bought - this is a taupey-grey. It is less green-ish than the swatch below may be showing. It is really pretty smudged allover the lid.
• Kitten - This is another product in Stila's iconic colour Kitten, which is a pretty champagne shade. This is pretty for allover the lid, but also for in the inner corner and for highlighting under the brow. 

The other colours (that I do not have) are:

• Black
• Dazzle
• Midnight Blue

top to bottom: Umber, Pink Violet, Smoke, Kitten

That little cap at the end? There is a little sharpener in it. This is a twist up product, so technically sharpening is not required, but I suppose you could use this to create a pointed tip to the product in order to get a more precise line. I've never actually used the sharpener, but it is there. Personally, I would prefer a smudger instead of the sharpener, especially since it is called a Smudge Crayon, but of course I can use my finger or another brush to blend out the edges.

This product claims to be waterproof. So I did put it to the test. I would probably say that these are actually water resistant, not waterproof. After putting the above swatches on my wrist, I put my had under the faucet. While the swatches held up quite well under the running water, I did not have to rub very hard at all to get the colour to move. However, a few tears or some light rain would likely not create a problem at all for this product. 

Final thoughts? Well I really like these for smudging around the lashline. This is mainly how I wear Umber and Pink Violet. I like to blend Smoke in as a lid colour, and I like to use Kitten as a highlighter on the inner tear duct area. I'm not a fan of the darker colours as either a primer or a shadow because they set a bit stiff, if that makes sense. If I want to use a pencil product for an allover lid colour, or as a deeper coloured primer, I would probably reach for my Tarte SmolderEyes over these, but I love these for a smudged out eyeliner look. If this is what you are looking for, I would highly recommend. 

Have you ever tried any of the Stila Smudge Crayons? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for reading!

Top 5 - Highlighters

I think highlighting products are my favourites! I might have said that for lipsticks and / or blushes as well, but highlighters are so beautiful and are just so fun to purchase. I've accumulated several, but here are my top 5.

clockwise from top left: Dior Amber Diamond, Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Pink Mosaic, Stila All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten, It Cosmetics Hello Light Powder Illuminizer, theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

l to r: Dior Amber Diamond,  Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Pink Mosaic, Stila All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten - lighter side, Stila All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten - darker side, It Cosmetics Hello Light Powder Illuminizer, theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

It has been really interesting doing these top 5 posts, because in each of them (blush, lipstick, and now highlighters), I have been able to notice trends in my preferences. Based on the swatches above, I obviously really like the more peachy/pinky, skintone highlights, rather than the white highlights such as MAC's Lightscapade. 

Some closer shots and my thoughts on each:

Product Review - Stila Countless Color Pigments

left: all shades swirled together, center: mid-toned orangey-brown, right: deepest brown

This was an impulse purchase at the Sephora VIB sale. It was not on my list, and I had never actually seen this new and limited edition product before (also, according to Sephora's website, this product is exclusive to them). But once I touched it, I was sold. The texture is so silky soft and I knew that it would blend nicely on my eyelid.

The version I chose was the most safe (most boring?) option - Groupie is basically a trio of neutral brown shades. The collection also included a bright pink, some purples, a turquoise, a blue and a reddish/brown combo. 

I immediately assumed these were just for the eyes, but they are marketed as pigments, so I guess that would imply that they are multi-use. In fact, I read a couple of reviews on Sephora's website later that night and someone mentioned that she uses the pink shade as a blush. I probably wouldn't have thought of that, but it's always great to get more than one purpose out of a product.

So far I have worn this on my eyes twice only. It definitely goes on smooth, and I enjoy using it, but I really didn't need to pick this up, especially considering all of the neutral browns I already have in my collection (especially, due to this). I actually wish I had been more adventurous and picked one of the more colourful selections such as Lyric, Tie Dye, or Light Show. I guess that is what you get for making impulse purchases!

Stila Countless Color Pigments in Lyric

Stila Countless Color Pigments in Tie Dye

Stila Countless Color Pigments in Light Show

Thanks for reading!

Products to Use Up in 2013

So, like many of us who are a bit beauty product obsessed, I have amassed quite a collection of makeup. I really love everything I have and don't regret purchasing, but I do feel quite guilty when I have to toss a lipgloss that is more than half full because it has started to smell funny. I watched a video on YouTube by MakeupTIA the other day that inspired me to select a few products that I haven't been using regularly, but would like to use up this year. I've made a significant dent in all of these products, but for some reason just have never finished. Here is my list:

• Stila Lip Glaze in Kitten - I loved this gloss for a long time, but when it started to get low, I stopped using it because I didn't want to run out (?? crazy, I know.. )

• Stila Eyeshadow in Kitten - I am so close to being done this and I already have purchased a back-up.

• Natural Beauty by Carmindy for Sally Hansen Lipgloss in Pink Blush - I was pretty disappointed when Carmindy's line was discontinued as I enjoyed quite a few of the products. This gloss for example, is really pretty, not sticky, and lasts a significant amount of time. Oh well. I want to finish this one before it goes bad.

• Lorac Blush in Dazzle - very pretty plum color, but I've had it for several years. I don't even think they make this color anymore.

• Garnier 2-in-1 Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller - I like this product, but don't love it. Plus, I have several other concealors to get to.

• Smashbox Lights Up Blush Trio - this is a pretty trio that I received in a gift set. It has a bronzer, highlighter and blush all in one. I like to swirl it for an allover color.

• Urban Decay Primer Potion - I have a couple of these that came in sample kits, etc. I generally prefer primers that are a bit more opaque than this. Also, I'm loving my Maybelline Color Tattoos as primers these days, so I probably won't repurchase this anytime soon.

• Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder - another sample size. I don't love this setting powder. I'd rather just use the Rimmel Stay Matte powder, but I don't want this one to go to waste.

• Also, I'd like to make a dent in the pile of mini mascaras that I seem to have unintentionally collected. When sorting through my samples last month, I found that I probably should not have to buy a new mascara all year if I just use these samples.

So there you have it. I'll check back in at the end of the year to see how I've done and select new products for next year!