eyeshadow – Just head over, heels

Review, Swatches | Lethal Cosmetics Matte Eyeshadows

March 12, 2021March 12, 2021by callmecarolina6 Comments

Over the past few years, indie brands have been multiplying faster than rabbits – it’s that and celebrity beauty lines. Everybody wants to cash in on Rihanna’s idea. Indie brands, however have been changing the makeup game – multi chromes, unconventional shades – it’s so much more about filling the gap in the industry and less about selling to the masses – or at least, what the industry traditionally thinks is marketable to masses. In a nutshell, indie brands don’t care about the “enhancing your natural features” spiel, it’s all about artistry and self-expression. Fine by me, I love it all.

One of these brands that really caught my attention was Lethal Cosmetics, mainly because of two things:

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makeup, Vanity

Top 5 | Best Products from KIKO (2021)

March 9, 2021March 12, 2021by callmecarolina7 Comments

As of today, my most viewed post is a review of Kiko’s Sunshine Tuscan Blushes. I guess I understand why, since Kiko is one of those brands that has a huge line and frequently comes out with limited edition collections, yet there aren’t that many reviews out there.

They also have really good sales and are known for some high end dupes. But they tend to discontinue a lot of their core products, and I have tried more than one dud. So here are my recommendations for Kiko permanent collection products if you want to try the brand, (or just want to enlarge your collection and are checking what else to get to reach the free shipping value, like I usually do. Can’t be having those makeup drawers with any extra room, right?).

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makeup, Vanity

Review, Swatches | Christian Louboutin Tape à L’Oeil Matte Nude Eye Colour in Lola (451) and Mariza (455)

March 5, 2021March 10, 2021by callmecarolina5 Comments

Ahh, Louboutin. This is the “I’ve made it” brand for me. I remember thinking, when the lipsticks came out a long time ago, “Even if someday I can afford it, I won’t buy it, because it’ll never be worth it”, which is something a broke girl tells herself to feel better while secretly envying all the boujee bloggers and youtubers who had it. Well, look at me now, eating my words and loving it. Happy to be a hypocrite.

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makeup, Vanity

Top 5 | Best Products from Urban Decay (2021)

March 2, 2021March 10, 2021by callmecarolina11 Comments

Urban Decay was one of my first makeup loves. Our relationship was solid for almost 10 years, but the last few have been rocky. I felt betrayed by the discontinuation of the Naked palette, my favourite thing about Urban Decay, and the new additions to the permanent line were no longer characteristic of the brand I fell in love with.

That said, I feel like there is some urgency in talking about their good products because everything that’s good is being discontinued and the new launches have been terrible. So before they get rid of everything good (like they did with the loose powder, the highlighters, the blushes), here are the top 5 products currently available that are true winners:

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makeup, skincare, Vanity

LookFantastic 2020 Beauty Chest – better than any beauty advent calendar

December 19, 2020March 10, 2021by callmecarolina1 Comment

I don’t need excuses to buy beauty products, but it’s nice to have them. I’m new to the beauty advent calendar mania (I know, it’s surprising, but they didn’t use to come by easily in Portugal), so this year I’ve been paying more attention. I was already down for the LookFantastic Advent Calendar when this thing dropped – 11 full size products for 85 pounds. Yes, want, mine.

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makeup, Vanity

Top 5 Surprisingly Amazing Makeup Products

September 3, 2020March 10, 2021by callmecarolina2 Comments

You know that feeling when you just found something so inconspicuous to be so amazing? Like randomly choosing a wine at the supermarket and finding out it’s the best red you’ve ever had. Like, Emma Stone could never.

This is what these five products are – better than Emma Stone. Surprisingly so.

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makeup, Vanity

The 19 Makeup Products of 2019

February 11, 2020March 10, 2021by callmecarolina7 Comments

I didn’t do it on purpose, but of all the makeup products that came out in 2019, I got 19. No more, no less. I couldn’t hit that number if I tried. My whole life is a pun.

To be clear, I got 19 makeup products that came out in 2019. I got other products as well, but those have been out of the closet for several years – it’s just that they came into my closet this year.

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makeup, Vanity

Shop & Tell: Sales & Steals

February 8, 2020March 10, 2021by callmecarolina2 Comments

I love post-Christmas sales. ‘Tis the perfect time for retail therapy. The makeup sets that are already a good value to begin with get even more discounted and it’s my goddamn kryptonite – and I was rushing to get this post out because these products are still all available and all on sale.

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makeup, Vanity

Marc Jacobs Holiday Collection: Pop Rox Glam Glitter and the Jet Girl O!Mega Luminizer that no one is talking about (review, swatches)

November 27, 2019March 10, 2021by callmecarolina4 Comments

This post was anticipated due to the current Sephora Surprise Sale for Black Friday, because one of these items is currently 30% off.

I missed out on Marc Jacobs’ holiday makeup collection last year, so when I read that the brand was coming out with the See-quins Glam Glitter eyeshadows again I jumped on it as fast as the first Sephora sale would allow me. I managed to refrain myself and got only one colour, Pop Rox.

Fast forward a month or so, and they launch, still as part of the holiday collection, a new highlighter, the (it’s a mouthful) O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer in Jet Girl. They had already released a highlighter at the same time as the See-quins Glam Glitter shadows, Showstopper, and it didn’t get the best reviews – less luminosity and more glitter, in short. I took the advise of beauty reviewers out there and didn’t got that one. This new highlighter though, is redemption in luminous form.

Here are reviews and swatches:

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makeup, Vanity

Makeup Memory Lane – A look at cult favourites

October 8, 2019March 10, 2021by callmecarolinaLeave a Comment

Having been a makeup ~~hoarder~~ lover for over 10 years, I’ve been trough the online growth of the beauty community. Back in 2008, I wanted to learn how to make my eyes look bigger (they’re tiny) with makeup and so I went on youtube, had almost no relevant search results, and one of the first videos I found and watched was from Panacea81 (Lauren Luke). This was when she was on the rise. That was basically the launch of beauty gurus on youtube.

Guys, I remember the video of the person who invented project pan. I will be doing one soon so I’ll expand on this on that post.

I’ve gone through all the makeup fads since makeup started being a thing in social media. Trends, brands, influencers came and went and I still have the products to remember – them and the money I spent at the time. Here’s a list of some real historical cult favourites (and please, if you ever – or still – own any of these, tell me in the comments, so I don’t feel ancient alone).

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