What It Is: Ellis Faas Light in E301

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:

Eye shadows are one of my favorite makeup products, especially now that brands are coming up with all sorts of new formulations!

Light comes in the same bullet-shaped tube as all of Ellis Faas’ products, which is interesting for an eyeshadow. Even liquid shadows are usually in a squeeze-tube, so I’m intrigued by the potential difficulties associated with the design. As for the formula, Ellis Faas says, “Although liquid, they dry upon application to create the illusion of metallic eyes”, but suggests that you can also use them as a highlighter.

How To Use It:

I’ve found that it’s too messy to apply directly using the brush included, so I have turned the bottom of the tube until product comes out, then wiping it on the back of my hand and using either my clean fingers or another brush. This product dries down EXTREMELY quickly and becomes very hard to work with, so move fast!

I’ve used this as an eyeshadow and also as a cheekbone highlighter. It is not the most subtle highlighter, but I liked it for a night out.

(blended out, applied heavily)

CC Rating: D

Ellis Faas Light is an interesting product, and while I always appreciate creativity within a brand, I’m not thrilled with this product. On Sephora, shade E01 is described as “antique silver”, but as you can see from the photos, it appears to be more like a bronzed gold. Light is quite opaque and sparkly when applied, and when I tried to sheer it out, it became somewhat patchy. It’s also difficult to layer and clumps easily when you try.

As for wear time, I got about 4 hours with no wear when I didn’t use a primer and about 7 or 8 hours with a primer. I never wear any eye product (except for MAC and Benefit cream shadows) without a primer, so I don’t mind that Light required one. The size/cost ratio of Light is also disappointing. Given, the unique delivery system reduces wasted product significantly, but you’re still only getting 0.085oz for $42. If this product was outstanding, I would say it’s worth the money, but I’m honestly not sure if it is.

Ellis Faas Light is available from Sephora.com for $42, along with the rest of her unique range.

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

What It Is: theBalm Nude ‘tude Palette

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:

Most makeup junkies I know love neutral eyeshadows. Sure, brights are fun, but neutrals are definitely more “everyday” and appropriate in every situation. Every makeup lover needs a palette full of neutral shades that’s great for a quick daytime look and traveling.

theBalm is obviously one of my favorite brands and I’m thrilled that they have finally decided to bring us a neutral palette! Nude ‘tude has two different looks, “Feeling Naughty” and “Feeling Nice”. They both contain identical shadows, but feature different artwork. Let’s see how the shadows performed!

How To Use It:

Nude ‘tude contains 12 neutral shadows, ranging from white highlights to black and brown liner shades. There is also a mix of finishes, which makes for versatility. Below I’ve swatched all 12 in natural light.

(L-R: Sassy, Stubborn, Snobby, Stand-offish, Selfish, Sophisticated, Sultry, Schitzo, Sexy, Serious, Silly, Sleek)

(Selfish on the lid, Sophisticated in the crease, Stubborn to blend)

CC Rating: A

This is such a wonderful palette! The selection of neutral shadows is great and should fill any girl’s beauty wardrobe with all the browns she needs! The balance between light and dark shades is perfect; I would use four shades as strictly lid colors, five as crease/outer corner colors, two as liners and there’s one that straddles the line as both lid or crease.

Makeup junkies will automatically be comparing this to Urban Decay Naked palettes, as they both offer a selection of neutral shadows. I own both of these palettes already and see both similarities and differences. If you own both UD palettes, then you’re probably considering theBalm slightly late to the neutral party; I can’t say anyone needs all three. However, if you’re in the market for a nude palette and want to keep the price reasonable, theBalm Nude ‘tude is your best bet of the bunch!

theBalm shadows are one of my fave formulas. Perfectly soft and blendable, this palette didn’t disappoint. I also really love the shimmer in many of the shadows – it’s multi-dimensional and almost metallic, but there’s no giant chunks of glitter to fall out. The $36 price tag on this baby ain’t so bad either. That breaks down to $3 per shadow, and while they’re not full-size by theBalm standards, that is still significantly lower than their regular price.

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

What It Is:

theBalm Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow Palette

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:

Matte eyeshadows (no shimmer, no sparkle, flat color) are an extremely useful tool. Although they seem rather boring, they add depth and can really make your eyes pop! theBalm is a fave brand of mine, and their eyeshadows always impress me. Therefore, I couldn’t wait to try out their palette filled with nine totally matte eyeshadows!

How To Use It:
To create an eye look with a lot of dimension, you’ll want to start off by applying one of the lighter shades (Matt Smith, Matt Chung) all over your eyelid. Then, add any of the medium-dark shades (Matt Gallagher, Matt Ramirez, Matt Schilling, Matt Patel) to the crease. Lastly, use one of the darkest mattes (Matt McDonald, Matt Horowitz, Matt Batali) to deepen the outer corner. You can also use any of the medium-dark or dark shades as an eyeliner and the lighter shades as an inner corner or browbone highlight.

(L-R: Matt Smith, Matt Gallagher, Matt Ramirez, Matt McDonald, Matt Horowitz, Matt Chung, Matt Batali, Matt Schilling, Matt Patel)

CC Rating: B+

Like I mentioned above, theBalm is one of my absolute favorite cosmetics brands. They put out quality products in fun packaging and Meet Matt(e) is no exception. All nine shadows were very smooth and easy to apply. They weren’t too chalky, as I often find matte shadows to be, and blended almost as well as shimmery counterparts.

The only problem with this palette is the lack of pigmentation in shadows. Some of the shadows were a little sheer for my liking, and Matt Smith and Matt Chung were barely visible on my pale skin. However, the shadows were very easy to work with and I imagine you could build up the color if it wasn’t pigmented to your liking on the first swipe.

This palette is available on theBalm’s website for $34.50.

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

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.

How To Use It:

I’ve previously reviewed Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palettes, but this one has a slightly different set-up. Included are two eyeshadows, one powder eyeliner and a creamy highlighter. This selection makes use rather easy. Neither of the eyeshadows stands out as the lid or crease color, so you can match them any way you please! Then, line your upper (and lower if you’re going for intensity) lash line and add the highlighter to your brow bone and inner corner. Another plus: you can use all four both wet and dry!

(DRY L-R: highlighter, 2 eyeshadows, liner)

(WET L-R: highlighter, 2 eyeshadows, liner)

The lipstick is super creamy and glossy, so application is easy. I find you barely need a mirror for this, because the color is rather sheer. Just swipe on (I found two swipes to be perfect for me) and go!

131 Passion Rose

CC Rating: A-

Let me say it: Clarins has done it again! Seriously! Both the quad and lippie in this Holiday release are fabulous. The four shades and formulations in the palette fit well together and make for an easy eye look. The eyeshadows are buttery and blend great. The pigmentation is definitely increased when used wet, but the dry pigmentation is still acceptable. The lipstick is on par with the rest of the Rouge Prodige line: creamy, moisturizing and super flattering. The shade is a stunning plummy-red with gold shimmer that is slightly vampy, but wearable. I really like this shade and don’t have anything like it in my collection!

My main gripe with the collection: the highlighter shade. It’s mostly glitter suspended in a gel, which is unique, but not totally useful. On an average day, I wouldn’t wear glitter on my eyes and would have preferred this to be another eyeshadow. The two eyeshadows are nice quality, but also not the most unique colors ever. For holiday you usually expect something special, and while Clarins did put a spin on their normal palette, the bronze and taupe shades just don’t scream “Holiday!” to me. However, I do like the addition of a specific eyeliner in the palettes. This one is gorgeous: a deep brown with gold nuances that really jump out when you use it wet.

If you’re new to Clarins or looking to haul some holiday collections, this would be a great place to start.

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

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…

What It Is:

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:

Eyebrows are probably the most overlooked part of the average woman’s makeup routine. After applying eyeshadow, foundation, lipstick and blush, many girls don’t have the time to fix up their brows too. However, since I started tidying my eyebrows, I’ve noticed that my face looks a lot more “pulled together” and am a total convert to the practice.

Anastasia Soare is Hollywood’s brow guru, grooming the eyebrows of almost every celebrity you can think of. She’s sharing her knowledge with the general public through her cosmetics brand, Anastasia Beverly Hills. I tried out her Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes kit, with a sampling of her best products for grooming your brows and looking wide awake.

How To Use It:
This kit comes with killer instructions, so I’m not going to go too in depth. Basically, you choose one of the 5 brow stencils from the palette and tweeze your brows accordingly. Then, use the brow wax to set your brows in place. Use the 2 shades of brow powder and included brush to mix a color that matches your brows and fill in any patchy spots. Finally, brighten your eyes with the 2 shades of neutral eyeshadows, highlighting your inner corner and under your browbone!

(L-R: darker powder, lighter powder, shimmery shadow, matte shadow)

CC Rating: A

This kit is truly and utterly fantastic. Seriously, you can be a complete brow newbie or an expert and still benefit from this palette. The wax, powder and eyeshadows are great quality and I’ve barely made a dent in any because you need so little to achieve a perfectly shaped brow. The 5 stencils will definitely cover most brow shapes, however, if yours isn’t in the kit, you can still use the wax, powder and shadows.

The only downside may be if your brows are a really unique color that can’t be achieved with any of the powders. The kit does come in Blonde and Brunette, with 2 distinct shades in each, so hopefully most can find a match! The price is also on the higher end as far as brow products go, but you are not only getting the products, but stencils and a how-to guide for tidying up your brows. You would also have to factor in how long the kit lasts for you to assess it’s worth.

I highly recommend checking out the Anastasia Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes palette. It’s available at Sephora and Anastasia’s website.

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

NYX is a really great brand and is still independently owned by founder Toni Ko, who started it in her 20′s (what have you done with your life?).  It’s definitely a brand worth checking out! While the color pigmentation wasn’t as striking as I hoped for, this still remains a huge addition to my makeup collection.  With 112 colors, it’s a pretty useful palette.  I found that these were best used wet because the color payoff when used dry was a little light.  Adding just a little bit of water to my brush amped these babies right up and gave me the true color that I actually saw in the giant box.

Watch the vid for my full review and an explanation on how you can salvage less pigmented shade!

Got something you want me to cover? Post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow us on YouTube and check out my other videos right here! And for more beauty related tips, check out my website and follow me on Twitter!

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What It Is:
theBalm Shady Lady Vol. 3 Eyeshadow/Eyeliner Palette

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:
Eyeshadow is an essential for any makeup junkie. Whether you’re all about neutrals or crazy for colors, it’s a great way to enhance your natural beauty and have fun with makeup! I also love the versatility of a shadow that can be used both wet and dry, making it a liner too! And getting a bunch of colors in one handy little package offers not only an array of options, but a really good deal too!

As for this particular product, well, the colors are awesome, the quality even better, and theBalm always has fun, cute packaging and names that make their products even more appealing. According to theBalm: “These nine beautiful shades tucked inside a cute giraffe-print palette can be used wet or dry and can be combined or worn individually for an endless variety of looks.”

How To Use It:
Like theBalm suggests, you can create an infinite number of looks with this palette, but I will just share my favorite day and night looks with you!

Dry L to R: Lusty Lee, Envious Erin, Racy Kacy, Safe Bet Annette, Runaround Rebecca, Come-Hither Heather, Open to Offers Olwen, All The Way Annie, Guilty Gwen

Wet L to R: Open to Offers Olwen, Racy Kacy, Runaround Rebecca, Come-Hither Heather, All The Way Annie, Guilty Gwen

For day: start by applying Come-Hither Heather (soft taupe) all over the lid. Use Envious Erin (shimmering pearl) as a highlight under the browbone and in the inner corner of your eye. If you’re a liner girl like me, get an eyeliner brush wet and draw a thin line of Guilty Gwen (sparkly black shimmer) along the upper lashline.

For night: use Lusty Lee (silver shimmer) on the whole lid and add All The Way Annie (shimmering amethyst) in the outer corner. Smudge Guilty Gwen in to the top lashline and blend out slightly for a sexy, smokey look. Lastly, dip your liner brush in water and use Open the Offers Olwen (teal) as a pop of color for your lower lashline.

CC Rating: A
The colors in theBalm Shady Lady Vol. 3 Palette are just stunning. It’s the perfect mix of safe neutrals and sexy, bold shades for every makeup lover. The quality of these shades is pretty much on par with MAC and every single one applied smooth like butter. With a primer, these lasted all day and night, and none of the shades suffered from loads of glittery fallout.

This palette is also a great value. You’re getting 14.4g of shadow for $39.50, which would normally run you $108! Now, with any palette, it’s only a good value if you’re going to USE every shade featured. Personally, I like all the shades and have worn each and every one, so I know it will be a great product for me.

If you’ve never tried theBalm before, Shady Lady Vol. 3 will be a great intro!

Would I Repurchase?: If I ever run out, yes! I will most likely purchase Vol.4 , once released – if there are no duplicate shades and I will use all the colors.

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

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