Saturday, March 30, 2013

Review: Vice and Velvet Body Mousse

Most of the great and popular indie B&B companies are located in the U.S, Canada or the U.K. Due to the long TAT associated with products like soap, perfume etc., for us Australian indie B&B fans, it means it can take anywhere from 3-8 weeks to receive our goodies from companies. So when I found Vice and Velvet, an Australian company, I was cautiously optimistic.


Saturday, March 23, 2013

Swatches: Revlon nail polish

I stopped by Gloss in the city a while ago and they had a bin of 3 for $12 Revlon polishes, so I decided to treat myself.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Swatch: Revlon Jaded Night

Gloss had a bin of Revlon polishes at 3 for $12, so I indulged - after spotting this colour in the pile!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Dupe battle! Shiro vs Sugarpill

Last but not least, There and Back again compared to Sugarpill's Midori.


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Dupe battle! Shiro vs Femme Fatale

I accidentally ordered three green shadows from Shiro. No complaints! But when I was looking at Snake it reminded me of a shadow I'd bought from Femme Fatale Cosmetics.

Snake "bright, lightly shimmery chartreuse"

Poison "vivid chartreuse green with soft yellow tones and a scattering of golden shimmer"
 
In the jar, Poison already looks like it's going to be a more yellow-toned chartreuse. Levels of shimmer are about equal in both eyeshadows.

Swatches done on bare, dry skin.



I'm not sure if it's just my skin, but Poison's apparent yellow tones make it a much darker chartreuse than Snake, which becomes almost a pastel yellow. I decided that a base might help the colour differences pull truer, so I turned to Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.




The addition of a white base proves it - whilst very similar applied, these shades aren't exact dupes. Poison is a bit darker and Snake is almost a pastel chartreuse. Eyeshadow junkies might want both, but you definitely don't need both in your collection - once on the eye, the differences would be negligible.

One more Shiro dupe battle to come!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Dupe battle! Shiro vs. Aromaleigh

You may have read about my love, and search for a dupe of Aromaleigh's Champagne Toast. Lucky for me, Aromaleigh brought back some of their Christmas colours in 2012, so I grabbed myself a full-size of Champagne Toast, and Twinkling Lights, which is a green with red glitter.

Not so long ago Shiro Cosmetics released the Hobbit-themed collection called "There and Back Again", which features and eyeshadow called Fifteen Birds in Five Fir Trees, also a green with red glitter. I got myself some Shiro goodies in an effort to compare the two shadows, for those people who may have missed out on Twinkling Lights, or those with extensive collections.


Monday, March 4, 2013

Sparkledex and swaps!

SPARKLEDEX
A couple years ago Tempestinatpot had the idea for a sort of review directory to help newbies to the indie cosmetic scene easily find a good company to make their first purchase from. I thought it sounded amazing and volunteered to help with the creation of the wikia.

We turn to indie to support handmade, local, to find something that suits our lifestye (vegan) or sensitive skin. The Sparkledex was intended to be a place where you can find important information at a glance, and if somebody wants to find more information, a list of reviews and swatches. Basically, we wanted to help take the legwork out of being an informed consumer in the sometimes murky world of indie cosmetics.

It's been ages since I touched the Sparkledex and so many new companies have sprung up since it's creation - especially when it comes to nail polish! I want this to be a community effort, so please - go visit the Sparkledex. Even if you only go and link your reviews to company pages, that will be one less thing I have to do. 

SWAPS
My blogsale didn't go so well and I still have a ton of stuff that needs re-homing. I've decided to offer things for swaps instead :) email me at the.jade.carver@gmail.com with what you'd like to swap for! Unless stated, everything is 90-100% full.


Polish (Aussies only):
China Glaze Peachy Keen
China Glaze Sunshine Pop
China Glaze Lubu Heels
NYC Cotton Candy
NYC Sprinkles
Rokk 96 Angel
Rokk 96 Cinderella
Jezy 43
Jezy 24
Jezy 20
Jezy 30
TBN Rich Red
TBN Frosty Red
Orly Golden Halo
Orly Opal Hope
Revlon Preview Pink
Essie Smooth Sailing Mini
Max Effect Mini Diva Coral
Max Effect Mini Red Carpet Glam
BYS French White
BYS Grey Crackle
Layla Magneffect Fuschia Sky

Cosmetics (international):
Full-sizes:
Silk Naturals lip stain Kiki
Morgana Cryptoria lipstick Mistress of Diamonds
Morgana Cryptoria lipstick Gilded Lime
Pretty Serious Gloss BSOD
Pretty Serious Gloss Tux
Pretty Serious Gloss Morning Java
Silk Naturals Wild Child
Silk Naturals Trophy (GWP, silver)
Silk Naturals Roam
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfecter BB Cream in Medium (half full)

Samples (all in jars):
Sugarpill Magicentric
Sugarpill Goldilux
Femme Fatale Crusader (e/s)
Femme Fatale Aspect (blush)
Fyrinnae Bifrost
Sassy Minerals Neverending
Shiro Cosmetics Boy or Girl
Aromaleigh Gridlock
Aromaleigh Sirius
Aromaleigh Snow
Aromaleigh Rhea
Aromaleigh Reverie
Aromaleigh Crescent
Lost in Makeupland Razorlight
Evil Shades Victorian Night