The Cocoa Dynasty: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

Loreal Nail Color: Brownie Points

View On Instagram

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Swatch Out! NYX Adorable Palette (Review & Swatches)

Rating

Pigmentation: 2

Longevity: 3

Packaging: 3

Price: 4

Review

This palette has beautiful colors but the quality is lackluster and disappointing.

It lacks pigmentation and the colors swatch sheer, even with a eye shadow primer. So if you decide to invest in this palette ($7.50USD) I recommend using NYX White Eye shadow Base or NYX Jumbo Eye shadow Pencil in Milk underneath to help the colors pop. Ciao!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Bhcosmetics! Carli Bybel 14 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette

This palette was created by BH Cosmetics X Carli Bybel YouTube and Instagram beauty guru. The colors are beautiful and feature 5 matte colors and 5 frosty eye shadows, as well as 4 highlighters. The colors are very pigmented and not at all chalky. Suitable for all skin tones.

Rating

Pigmentation: 5

Quality: 5

Price: 5

Packaging: 5

Top row of palette from right to left

Middle row of palette from right to left

Bottom row of palette from right to left

"Beauty expert and YouTube sensation Carli Bybel designed this versatile 14 Color Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette to dial up the drama and add excitement to your look. Carli's taste for chic refinement and modern elegance inspired her to select a collection of earthy neutrals and plummy brown shadows with four face highlighters that complement every skin tone. The mix of mattes and shimmers makes it easy to go from amped-up evening intensity to toned-down daytime options."-BH COSMETICS-

Features and Benefits:

Highlighting Powders Can Be Used for Face and Eyes
Vegan
Paraben Free
Non-Irritating
Allergy Tested
Clinically Tested
Cruelty Free Product

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Swatch Out! NYX Blushes: Ethereal and Pinched (WOC)

Ladies and Gentlemen these blushes are absolutely exquisite. So pretty and with the right amount of sparkle. The photos do them no justice. Suitable for all and I mean all skin tones. NYX really brought it with these blushes. I was on the fence because I thought they would look chalky on my skin. But I was pleasantly surprised. $5.00USD

Coral Peachy Shimmer

Rosy Golden Shimmer

Blushes shown above rubbed out on the skin.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Spotlight! Bath and Body Works Sparkling Limoncello

With spring around the corner my focus is on my home smelling fresh and springy.

So I am loving Bath & Body Works Sparkling Limoncello candle. I even picked up a antibacterial hand gel. Since lemons are a favorite for me all year round, I will be keeping extras of this candle on hand. Bath and Body Works candles are my favorite candles because the candle fragrances are bold but not over powering. $22.00

Turquoise Waters and Island Margarita Room sprays are concentrated and strong yet the fragrance lingers for sometime in the air. $11.50

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Swatch Out! Blush Favorites: M.A.C, NYX, Jordana, Nabi, La Femme (WOC)

Rating

Jordana Blush- Cinnamon Spice (5)

Nabi Blush-Spice (3)

M.A.C Blush-Blunt (4)

M.A.C Blush-Raizin (4)

NYX Blush-Cocoa (5)

La Femme Blush-Russet (3)

La Femme Blush-Sienna (5)

I naturally gravitate to blushes that will give my cocoa skin a natural glow or add some life to my cheeks. The blushes above each are different but all deliver pleasant results when used with a light hand. All of these blushes deliver serious pigmentation.

recommendation

Use daylight bulb(s) instead of natural or soft white bulbs at your makeup vanity or in your bathroom so when applying any makeup or foundation, you will know what it will look like outside, this helps you know whether you are applying too much or too little color to the face.

All blushes shown above are on the high and low end, quality and longevity is everything.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Swatch Out! Favorite Highlighters: Sephora, M.A.C, NARS, Too Faced, & E.L.F. (WOC)

Rating
These are some of my go to products I use for highlighting my cheeks and brows.

Too Faced Candlelight- is a finely milled powder that gives a nice glow to the cheeks. (4)

Sephora Light Beam-is the perfect under eye highlight after applying concealer. (4)

M.A.C Flicker-is great for highlighting the cheeks and under the brow. It has just the right amount of sparkle. (5)

NARS Miss Liberty (5) and E.L.F. Gotta Glow (5)-are both blushes but I use them to highlight my cheekbones.

clockwise

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Illuminating Translucent Powder (Candlelight) $30.00

Sephora Baked Luminizer (Light Beam) $14.00

Nars Blush (Miss Liberty) $29.00

M.A.C Pressed Pigment (Flicker) $22.00

E.L.F. Blush (Gotta Glow) $3.00

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip: Succulent, More Better, First Base, & Lumiere 2

(top to bottom)

more better

succulent

1st base

lumiere 2

Succulent- is not as opaque as the other colors shown. When it dries it has a chalky residue to it, so be warned, or maybe I got a bad batch. It is a neon cherry red, very pretty. I highly recommend ladies with fair to tan skin tones try this color, you'll love it if you love red lips.

1st base-is a true pink with coral undertones. Very pretty and very opaque.

Lumiere 2-is a dusty rose with purple undertones, very pretty and pigmented.

More Better- is a true berry wine, it tends to smear, and does not dry completely like the other colors.

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip (1st Base)

Monday, February 15, 2016

Swatch Out! Gold Highlighters (WOC)

Highlighting the cheekbones and other points of the face are definitely the trend right now. So why be left out, because most products are chalky or look ashy against your deeper skin-tone. Gold may not be everyone's cup of tea on the face, but for those who aren't shy. I have included the illuminators in my collection. Below are one highlighter (colourpop), one blush (lorac), two bronzing powders (ruby kisses) and (sonia kashuk) and one all over pigment (cocoadynasty for baublelux) which are all perfect for highlighting and or adding warmth to the skin.