MORPHE: Copper Spice and Bronzed Mocha Review

Hi Internet, it’s me.

It’s been quite a while but I’m back with another review on the palettes that Morphe Brushes recently released. I’ve been buying a little too much makeup lately and need to slow myself down but when I saw these… I couldn’t help myself. Come on, just look at these gorgeous neutral shades.

These name of the palettes are Copper Spice and Bronzed Mocha and I do believe they’re limited edition so I’m not sure if they’re still available or not. This is such a bummer because they’re such good quality. What’s really cool about these palettes is that they’re mostly matte shades. You don’t always see mostly matte shades in mixed palettes.

I adore the matte shades because they have a lot of pigment and are easily bendable. Both of these palettes have so many neutral shades that you’re bound to find your perfect transition color. They can also give you a really good smokey eye. These pictures show me with a pretty natural eye shadow look which both of these can help you achieve.

The shimmery shades perform really well too but I think that you should be using a primer. Since they’re so creamy, there’s a specific way that I apply these shades to make sure that I’m getting the best color payoff. I have to press a little firmer and do one swipe rather than pat them on. It’s easily doable but it takes a few times to get the hang of it.

My only real complaint about these palettes is that there are no highlighting shades. I love a good inner corner highlight and neither of these palettes have a a shade that I can work with. I did have to dip into a different palette, so that can be a little annoying but nothing too major.

Overall, the quality of these shadows are really good, especially for the price that you pay for them. I just really wish that Morphe would have made these palettes permanent and created more of them that are the same formula with the same packaging. These palettes also get me really excited for the launch of the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe that was recently announced! So expect to read a review on that in the future. Hope you enjoyed and let me know if you have these palettes and what you think on my social media. 🙂

Stay beautiful,

Ayse💋

Song of the day: Too Much by Kehlani (SweetSexySavage is fire.)

First Impression: Carli Bybel Palette

Hi Internet, it’s me.

This past weekend, a package I was anxiously awaiting for finally arrived: the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette. I’ve been eyeing this palette for a while but I didn’t know if I should go through with purchasing it because I have a serious spending problem when it comes to eye shadow palettes and highlighters. I justified the purchase by looking at the price tag… it was only $14.50! That’s practically a steal when you see what’s inside.

The palette has 10 eyeshadows and 4 highlighters but realistically, you can use the highlighters as eyeshadows and vice versa. All of the colors are neutral and mostly warm toned. It’s perfect for beginners that don’t want to take too many risks with bright colors. It’s also ideal for traveling because it has all of your basic shades that can help you create a variety of looks. I will say that if you already have a lot of neutral palettes, you might not need this palette but if you’re a junkie like me… you NEED this palette.The highlighter shades are also a huge bonus because they come with a variety of different shades. No matter what skin tone you are, there’s an color option that can help you achieve that glow.

Source: http://www.thebeautybybel.com

Quality wise, these shades are so pigmented. It’s hard to believe the color payoff is that good with a price that low. The shimmery and matte shades are both evenly pigmented and haven’t showed any patches. I applied them for the first time today and noticed that they blend very smoothly. The matte shades impressed me the most because I know that it’s hard to find creamy matte eyeshadows for an affordable price. So far, all of these colors have passed the test for me.

Another thing I love about this palette is I know that it comes from a company that is completely cruelty-free and a blogger that has recently transitioned into the vegan lifestyle. The brands website even has a page with all of their vegan products so it makes it super easy to shop! Carli has also talked about going vegan on her YouTube channel and it’s so cool to see, especially since she has such a big following. Fun fact: when she first posted about going vegan, I was going through my transition as well and it gave me an even bigger push to change my lifestyle… and here I am today.

Anyways, hope this first impression review was helpful if you were thinking about buying this palette. Enjoy!

Stay beautiful,

Ayse💋

Song of the Day: Shout Out To My Ex by Little Mix

Makeup Setting Spray

Hi Internet, it’s me.

Today I wanted to talk about a staple in my makeup collection: makeup setting spray. I used to think that it was so unnecessary and just another product that the industry was trying to sell. then I tried it out and when I ran out I realized how much it actually made a difference to me. I have super oily skin and my makeup just loves to melt off of my face.

Before I decided to go cruelty-free, I used the L’Oreal Infallible one but since they test on animals I’ve been trying to find a different one at the drugstore that I was cruelty-free. I tried out the NYX mattifying one but I wasn’t that impressed to be completely honest. But recently I tried one from Wet n Wild and it’s only $4.99! I absolutely love it and it works so well with my oily skin. It isn’t designated for a specific skin type so all skin types can try it out.

Depending on your skin type, setting sprays can really help your makeup last longer and look fresh. Since I have oily skin, I always look for something that can mattify my skin and prevent my makeup from gliding all over my face. When I don’t set my face with setting spray, I can tell a difference within a few hours and I feel my foundation and concealer ready to come off. With setting spray, make makeup looks better for a longer period of time. If you have dry skin, there are sprays that would help you look more luminous and fresh. They are definitely worth it in my opinion!

Make sure you follow my Instagram and Twitter for more. Enjoy!

Stay beautiful,

Ayse💋

Song of the day: Just Friends by The Wilts

Favorite Cruelty-Free Drugstore Brands

Hi Internet, it’s me.

Today I wanted to talk about what some of my favorite drugstore makeup brands are. When you walk into a drugstore, it can be overwhelming because majority of makeup brands in these stores are not cruelty-free. So I wanted to write this post and rank my favorite brands in order.

1.  NYX Cosmetics:

   

   Source: NYX Cosmetics LinkedIn

   • NYX is becoming more and more popular and super easy to find in almost every drugstore nowadays! You can’t beat their prices and they have such a big range of products. Some of my favorites include: the Lip Lingerie liquid lipsticks, Soft Matte Lip Creams, Powder Blushes and their Contour Kit.
2. Wet n Wild

   

   Source: http://www.thethings.com

   • This brand does not mess around when it comes to powders. Their eye shadows are some of the best eyeshadows in the drugstore. Also, you might’ve seen my previous post about this, their contour palettes are so pigmented and feel so creamy. They also have a blush called Pearlescent Pink that is a dupe for NARS’ Orgasm blush.
3. Milani

   

   Source: http://www.milanicosmetics.com

   • It’s hard to rank this brand at number 3 because they keep getting better and better with every new product they come out. The reason they aren’t higher because I haven’t been using as much as their products for that long. They have amazing lip products, eye shadows and blushes. I’m also dying to try their newest foundation!
4. e.l.f.

   

   Source: http://www.elfcosmetics.com

   • You can never go wrong with e.l.f. because it might be impossible to find a brand cheaper. They have a wide variety of products for such a low price. Although it’s easier to find some products I don’t like in their bunch, there are so many amazing finds. Some of my favorites include their blush palette, their synthetic brushes, and their blush and bronzer duo.
5. Physician’s Formula

   

   Source: http://www.physiciansformula.com

   • Physician’s Formula makes amazing quality products but they tend to be on the more expensive side at the drugstore. Although, a lot of it is really worth it. They have amazing powders that include blushes, highlighter and eyeshadows. Some of my favorites are their shimmer strips (specifically: Vegas), Powder Palette and their Organic Wear mascara.

So that sums of some of my favorite makeup brands you can find at your local CVS, Target, Walmart or whatever drugstore is closest to you! Transitioning to cruelty-free products was a bit difficult at first but once I realized that some of my favorite products were still fair game, it made it easier. Hope you enjoyed!

Stay beautiful,

Ayse💋

Song of the day: This Town by Niall Horan

Contour at the Drugstore: NYX vs. Wet n Wild

Hi Internet it’s me.

Today I wanted to talk about some affordable products I use to contour. I’ve been using the NYX contour palette for a while and I loved it. But recently, Wet n Wild came out with their version of contouring palettes and I’m obsessed. They are ridiculously pigmented and super affordable but there are pros and cons to both brands.

The NYX one has a lot of different color selections for many skin tones, while Wet n Wild only has two split pans that they sell. The NYX one also has two shimmery highlight shades while Wet n Wild does not (they do offer a separate highlighting palette). The NYX palette retails for $25.00 while the Wet n Wild ones are $4.99 each.

Personally, I like the quality of the Wet n Wild ones better. I think they feel creamier and they have so much more pigment. They also blend really well and it’s hard to believe it only costs $4.99. However, the NYX one is not bad but I do think that it’s a little more powdery and a little harder to blend. I find myself reaching for the Wet n Wild one more but the NYX palette is nice to have especially since it’s one big palette and would be perfect for a makeup artist’s kit. I love both of these brands but Wet n Wild wins the battle this time!

Stay beautiful,

Ayse💋

Song of the day: Mercy by Shawn Mendes

First Impressions: Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks.

Hi Internet, it’s me.

This week I had a little package arrive in the mail that I was impatiently waiting for. I bought three Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks in the shades Unicorn Blood, Androgyny and Celebrity Skin. I know what you’re thinking… “those are so expensive!” but hear me out. I haven’t gone makeup shopping in quite a while and I love how he makes sure that his whole line is vegan and cruelty-free. They’re $18 each but that is considered reasonable looking at other high-end lipsticks. I also realize that this is my first official post about makeup and it’s not from the drugstore but I couldn’t wait!

 

Moving on, I am OBSESSED with these colors. They are perfect for fall and they are the typical colors that I always reach for but I just can’t help it. Unicorn Blood is your deep burgundy red which is something I wear almost everyday come winter time. Androgyny is a mauve-y type neutral color that is similar to what I love wearing with almost any makeup look. Last but not least, I bought celebrity skin, which would probably be a perfect nude for me personally.

Top to Bottom: Unicorn Blood, Androgyny, Celebrity Skin.

So far, I’ve only worn two shades and I have a few things to say. The first thing I noticed was that they have a very strong licorice scent which I wasn’t a big fan of but luckily, the smell was gone after I was done applying it. These are super comfortable on the lips and they are not sticky whatsoever, which is a huge plus for me. I hate when I can feel a liquid lipstick suck the life out of me and these don’t do that at all. They are very pigmented but I did notice that by the end of the day, it got a little patchy. I need to keep wearing them to give my full opinion but so far they I’m very happy with my purchase!

Stay beautiful,

Ayse💋

P.S. I’m going to start writing a song of the day/week at the end of some posts depending on what I’m listening to, but here’s my song of the week:

The Currents by Bastille.