What It Is:
Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in 07 Smokey Passion and Rouge Prodige in 131 Passion Rose

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:

I rarely feature collections on In Our Makeup Bag and here’s why: they are big. Most makeup collections have upwards to 10 pieces and that is just too much for this column. On top of that, the quality of all the items is usually so varied that they don’t make for a very coherent review.

Clarins is a fave brand of mine that happens to put out rather modest collections. Their latest holiday fare boasts only three items: a face powder, eye quad and a lipstick. I have both the quad and lipstick to test out, so let’s see how it goes. Read More »

I feel bad for the male gender 90% of the time. Mostly because I see them as the lesser sex..but hey don’t we all? Another reason I feel bad for them is that they don’t get to use make-up. That’s not an airtight statement, but for the most part foundations, shadows and lip shades are left for us girls. But with this great gift of makeup comes great responsibility that some have chosen to abuse.

From the overly excessive smokey eye to some downright weird eyelash extensions, sometimes eye makeup can go way too far. Below are prime examples of those faux-pas… Read More »

Already stressed about finding the perfect gift for your girlfriends? Never fear, that’s what holiday make-up sets were invented for! Your BFF who can never decide on which eye shadow color to buy? Get her all of them! Your roommate who loves to try new fragrances? She’s covered! Your sister the lipgloss fiend? Make her wildest dreams come true!

There really is something for every one of your best gals when it comes to gift sets! Here are our top five picks for this holiday season… Read More »

What It Is:
Clarins 4 Colour Eye Palette in 02 Nudes

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:

Not everyone wears eyeshadow, but I absolutely adore it. It can really transform the look of your eyes and whole face. Eyeshadow (that is well applied) is mark of maturity for me. Palettes are a convenient way to store shadows, but a good eyeshadow palette is hard to find!

Clarins have recently released a series of eyeshadow quads featuring mineral eye shadows in gorgeous color combos. I took 02 Nudes for a test run! Read More »

What It Is:
Wet ‘n Wild Walking on Eggshells Color Icon Trio

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:
Budget and drugstore beauty brands are a college gal’s best friend. I obviously love my makeup, but sometimes I can’t afford to even step foot in Sephora for fear of falling in love with a product outside of my price range. Drugstore brands are a good way to tide yourself over during a bank account dry-spell, especially when they pump out quality products.

Wet ‘n Wild has been around for as long as I can remember. My first nail polishes were Wet ‘n Wild, way way back in the day. They’ve been good for those “one timers” (as in, you wear it one time and chuck it out without feeling guilty), but have recently started putting out a line of eye shadows that rival the best! Seriously, there are MAC dupes in these palettes! I knew I had to check this out and picked up Walking on Eggshells, a tame mix of white, brown and peach.

How To Use It:
The imprinting on the shadows make application pretty darn easy. The look that Wet ‘n Wild have come up with (peach on eyelid, brown in crease and then white as a highlight) is really pretty! However, I’ve been liking a slightly different combo of peach on the lid, white in the inner corner and then a smidgen of brown to line my upper and lower lashes. For a cheap trio, it’s surprisingly versatile – my favorite word!

CC Rating: A+

Trust me, I’m just as shocked as you are that this is getting an A+. A drugstore trio is beating out high-end beauty brands? You betcha! The shadows in this trio are super smooth and blendable and have gorgeous shimmer to them. They are so dimensional and make for a perfect everyday palette that swings a few ways.

I can’t wait to get my paws on the other trios in this collection! I’ve heard great things about the quality of the other color combos and have been assured that Walking on Eggshells isn’t just a fluke. Well done Wet ‘n Wild! If you’re looking for a cheap beauty fix, check out the Color Icon Trios!

[Need some new makeup but not sure what to buy? Check out Alex's other beauty reviews here.]

We all know the total euphoria of finding a brand new must-have, I’m-totally-obsessed-with-that-since-I-saw-it-in-Glamour-and-checked-it-out-at-Sephora-and-it-made-my-skin-look-effing-flawless beauty product. I don’t care what anyone (boys) says, I stand my ground that these things can be life changing.

Except when said life-changing beauty product is sold out. Everywhere. As in, I spent two days calling every makeup counter, Sephora, Ulta, random ass beauty store looking for it and it was nowhere. Could not be found. Dunzo. No Mas.

What is this product that has left me crying and over my cell phone limit for the month? The Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow palette, full of 12 gorgeous shades of golds, browns, champagnes, plums and gun metals (sigh). It’s got the perfect range of mattes, shimmers and glitters (swoon), paired with two silky eye liners in brown and black. It is seriously a dream for any eyelid. Not only is it at a killer price point ($44), but it’s also nice and compact, making travelling so easy. It’s my eye makeup soul mate.

But this slice of makeup heaven isn’t available at the momento. And no one seems to really know when it will be. Not the stores I’ve called. Not the websites I’ve checked. And for sure not the woman I grabbed outside the makeup store shrieking, begging and pleading for info. Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: Make Up For Ever Rock For Ever Eye Shadow Palette (Wow that’s a mouthful!)

Why this should be in your bag
I feel like it’s been ages since I’ve reviewed a palette! Even though they are super cute and convenient, it’s hard to find one where I would use every single shade.

Make Up For Ever is known for its top-notch cosmetic products, including buttery shadow that blends like no other. I sometimes find companies skimp on the quality in palettes, but trust me, the Rock For Ever Palette is still filled with the formula you know and love (or should try out!).

Upon first glance the Make Up For Ever Rock For Ever Palette colors might seem a bit blah. Yeah, sure, black + silver + white = a great smokey eye, but really, what else? But then I saw that shimmering apricot color in the top right corner and my imagination was kick started. This palette can be used to create a myriad of looks, which, surprisingly, include simple, everyday ones. Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me for review purposes. Because I can never have too much makeup!)

What it is: Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow

Why this should be in your bag: This is THE BEST wet/dry shadow I’ve ever tried! A versatile product like this is a necessity, especially for travel. You can bring a few of these and do completely different eye looks, mixing and matching which ones you use as liners, all-over washes and highlights. All you need is a little water to totally transform the product.

How to use it: Just like Sephora says – “apply your color dry for a natural vibe or dampen your brush and apply wet for an all-out sophisticated stare.” Personally, I use shade 06 Must Have for my daily liner. It’s a matte black (see swatches). First, get your eyeliner brush wet and rub it in the shadow, moistening it and getting some on your brush. Using a steady hand, apply to your upper lash line. If you’re feeling sassy, finish with a cat-eye by flicking your wrist up at the edge of your eyelid! (Learn how to do the perfect cat-eye right here.) Read More »

So if you’re like me, part of the fun of being a girl is getting all beautified and purtied up. I mean, beyond the fun that is playing with makeup, what’s the point of putting together a cute outfit if your skin looks dry, your hair looks flat and you smell like a thrift store?

Obviously, my all-time favorite one-stop-shop for all my beauty needs is Sephora. That place has it all… not to mention you can pop in there while you’re shopping and freshen up with their variety of samples. (Confession: sometimes I’ll make Sephora my last stop so I can use all their expensive makeup to get ready for the night!) The sad fact is, beauty products are muy expensive-o and can quickly add up.

Good thing Sephora has a nice stock of too-good-to-be-true goodies for under $20. Let the beautification begin! Read More »

Eyeliner is the one makeup staple that I just won’t leave the house without. Liner-less eyes make me feel like a zombie and I inevitably get bombarded with “are you sick” or “did you not sleep well” type questions.

I’ve tried so many different liners just trying to find that perfect one. And then I realized there isn’t one. The trick is that with so many different varieties, there are perfect liners for different occasions! Certain lifestyles and situations fit better with a particular type of eyeliner. I’ve outlined the different types of liner and the pros and cons of each so you can decide which ones are right for you: Read More »