Review - Lime Crime Venus Palette

Oh yes -  I got it! Lime Crime's Venus Palette, also called the grunge palette with "new-trals". Before it's release was announced, it had been put on the website without an e-mail notice... Hmm... But thanks to makeupsocial I heard about it and ordered as soon as I could! On the 31 October I ordered it, it was shipped on 7 November and I received it ten days later at the 17th November. Ten days from the US to Sweden is pretty good. The palette is sold for $42, and the shipping was $10.95 so an total of $52.95 is a good price, especially if we compare it to Swedens ridicoulously high cosmetics prices (I'm just going to tell you that Anastasia palettes are 495 sek -  $67 dollars!)

There's not one thing that I don't love about this palette. The packaging is gorgeous -  metallic gold details, the twist on Botselli's Venus with the blue hair and crown, the sunset shades and contrast blue. The packaging isn't just pretty, it's very sturdy also made in carton.

The palette has eight shades and every shade weights 2 grams, so it's $5.25 per shadow. Venus is a muted cold red with a sheen, Shell is a glowy peach, Aura a shimmery ivory, Creation a matte warm mid-toned brown, Icon a matte deep dark brown, Rebirth a peachy mid-tone orange with a sheen, Divine a matte light taupe, and Muse a matte deep red maroon. Due to horrible lightning (these photos we're taken in the middle of the day), the first photo is the most accurate representation of the shades while the second is awful, and the third is accurate too. The only one that I think is different from stock photos is Rebirth, which is definitly lighter and colder than I expected!

All the shades are smooth and has good pigmented, the only one with minor issues is Shell which seems to be a bit crumbly, but this is finger swatches without primer and I'm sure it will be fine over a primer! I will do a look with the palette in the weekend, so I can tell you how they perform then!

And finally, this is the backside with the ingredients and such, with the same beautiful details as the front and mirror. Worth mentioning is that Lime Crime is 100% vegan and cruelty free! Overall, this is a beautiful palette with a mostly warmtoned twist on the traditional neutrals, and it's definitly grunge appropriate shades as it is marketed as. But I know that you'd be able to do a deep, burgundy smokey eye aswell as a peachy, glowy halo eye with this! As a conclusion - I have not regret spending half of my student grant on this one second and it was love at first sight.

Midnight redtoned grunge

Middle of the night makeup and sink lightning, you know. It isn't real grunge until your hair hasn't been washed in a week and you put on some dark lipstick!

Face:

- The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream (Light)
- MAC Prep+Prime Highlighting Pen (Light Boost)
- Sleek Face Form (Light)
Eyes:
- NYX HD Eyeshadow Base
- Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (Black Forest Truffle, Amaretto, Triple Fudge)
- The Body Shop Define & Lengthen Mascara
- Isadora Eyebrow Pencil (Dark Brown)
- Catrice Liquid Liner
Lips:
- Mac Lipstick (Media)

Monthly favorites - October 2014

After that one week of November already has passed, here's my October favorites! I have actually barely been home this week, and when I have it's already dark outside. Now I thought I couldn't wait any longer so inside artificial light it is (sorry!).

My four first favorites are all about the base. I got Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and Glam Glow Super Mud in the same haul - and they have made a big difference! First the Super Mud. I never believed the hype around this, could it really be that good and minimize pores, breakouts, spots, oil, in one treatment? Well, obviously it could. After using this and a heavy moisturiser my skin is baby soft and 75% more clear. But full size product for 449sek? Nah... I'll try some other treatments before I make that investment.

I actually already have two other Real Techniques brushes, the flat foundation brush and the blush brush. I like them both, but I think the foundation brush made my foundation a bit streaky. With the Expert face brush I have no problem with streakiness at all! I use it to really buff in my The Body hop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream in the shade Light. I haven't been pale enough for it until now, and even though it is a light coverage BB cream it is buildable to atleast a medium coverage. I'm not a fan of the tea tree smell, but since it keeps my combination skin matte all day I can live with it. On top of the BB cream I use my MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Light Boost, just to cover and highlight my dark circles, this also buffed in with the Exper face brush, all to give me the perfect quick everyday base.

And talking about everyday makeup, I usually go light with my mentioned base, powder, a little bronzer, brows and mascara. To make it look like I've made an effort when doing my makeup, I apply some bright or in-season vampy lipstick. My favorites? NYX Soft Matt Lip Creams in Copenhagen and Prague. Easy to apply, long lasting, and gorgeous colours. What more to ask for? Well, maybe Copenhagen could be slightly more opaque, but when I got them for 3 dollars, I can't really complain.

And last but not least, some Youtube faves this month:

My new youtube favorite, the cute and talented Mykie of Glam & Gore with a super cool frostbitten Elsa tutorial, and the lovely Linda Hallberg with a gorgeous fall inspired eyelook.

Wishlist for christmas 2014

Why is it so satisfying to do wishlists? I don't know... Anyway, here's mine for this christmas!

• Lime Crime Salem Velvetine
• Too Faced Beauty Wishes & Sweet Kisses palette
• Hourglass Ambient Lightnings Powder/Blush Palette
• Zoeva Vegan Prime Set
• Nars Laser Cut Palette and Virtual Domination Palette
• Mischief license
• Melt Lipsticks in DGAF and 6six6
• Super Smash Bros for 3DS

(Ps. November favorites are coming, I promise!)

Chelsea smile (warning for gore)

Happy Halloween!
A little late, but I actually celebrated it a bit late too. Didn't plan on doing anything since Halloween already was, but then yesterday my boyfriend and his friend decided to go to a party so I joined them. A perfect opportunity to try my fake blood and liquid latex!

For the wound I used:- Liquid latex
- Tissue paper
- Kids Face Paint (black & red/brown)
- Blood paste

And here's me and my girl Frida as Batman! I think my subconscious made us match so well...

Autumn break in Stockholm

This friday I went to Stockholm with my boyfriend! We didn't have anything planned, except my obligatory shopping, of course. We ate some very nice food (living 30 meters away from a japanese restaurant is ideal), went to get some Pop tarts for my mom, and then the big thing: I got to see Linda Hallberg! Definitly one of my favorite makeup artists. She was so nice and her makeup was flawless as expected!

But now, on to my little haul! Atleast two a month keeps the doctor away. Or something. I could not resist Sephora when I finally had the possibility to go there, and then I couldn't resist some more stuff either as always.

So here it is! My first gorgeous NARS product - Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla. Unfortunately it's too dark and too pink for me which I of course discovered when I got home, so I think I'll give this away. Chantilly seems to be the perfect shade for scandinavian pale but not scandinavian pink skin! I also went to Make Up Store to meet the amazing Linda Hallberg, and of course I couldn't resist picking up some goodies. First is the LED Lipgloss in Atomic! This has been very hyped about, and I guess you can see why! Though it is not very opaque, it is gorgeous over a dark base with its blue/green/purple shimmer! I also asked Linda about some of her favorite MUS eyeshadows, and she showed me Microshadow in Cupcake which is a dark brown with blue toned glitter. And last but not least I went to The Body Shop since I apparently had bonus checks to spend, and I got an eyeshadow brush, Tea Tree Spot treatment and their new Color Crush Nail Polish in A Grape Affair.

Here's swatches of Cupcake and Atomic. I love Atomic so much! I hope I can find an occasion to wear this soon...

Red and dead

Another halloween makeup! I apologize for the hoodie, but I wasn't able to change clothes without potentially ruining the makeup... Inspired by the talented juliannemng at Makeupsocial (who was inspired by Chrisspy and nickeilgenesis on Instagram)! Hoping to maybe get some liquid latex and fake blood so I can make more halloween looks, as I am having so much fun doing it!

What I used for this look:
Base:
- Isadora Wake Up Make Up (00 Fair)
- MAC Prep+Prime Highlighting Pen (Light Boost)
- Isadora Velvet Touch Powder (010 Translucent)
Skull part:
- Random face paint kit for children (white paint)
- 88 Eyeshadow palette (Red)
- Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette (Cherry Cordial)
Eyes: 
- NYX HD Eyeshadow Base
- Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette (Cherry Cordial)
- 88 Eyeshadow palette (Red)
- Wet N Wild Coloricon Trio in Walking on eggshells (Lid shade)
- Isadora Perfect Lipliner (31 Prime Red)
- Catrice Liquid Liner
- The Body Shop Define & Lengthen Mascara
- Isadora Eyebrow Pencil (Dark Brown)

90% accidental haul

Swatches, L-R: MUS Sea Shell, NYX Prague & Copenhagen

Last week I finally received my Cherry Culture order, which took in total more than 3 weeks! But since it was a 40% sale, I say it was worth it. Also this weekend we visited my uncle and his family, who lives only a few hundred metres away from a shopping center. And hence the accidental haul and a little to big damage to my wallet... But first things first, my Cherry Culture order. I didn't order a lot, but I ended up with two more Soft Matte Lip Creams ($6) in Prague and Copenhagen, and the HD Eyeshadow Base ($6). The lip creams are aaaamazing, feel like I'm going to wear Prague especially a lot this fall! Such a perfect berry shade, and I love wearing liquid matte lipsticks to school, so I don't need to reapply through out the day. I ordered this on the 40% sale and it only costed me about $11.

At the shopping centre it seems like get a lot but cosmetics is damn expensive in Sweden! I went to Kicks and picked up a couple of things. First the Make Up Store blush in Sea Shell (165sek), the perfect rosy/mauve shade. I've actually used this for eyeshadow aswell, as it's very pigmented. When I saw this tiny and (relatively) cheap tube of Glam Glow Super Mud (149sek), I just had to get it just to try out. I don't want to spend 500 sek on a face mask I don't like! Last and most boring is a sharpener and the Burt's Bee lipbalm which I already hate as it stings my lips like crazy. I guess it's the peppermint, should have read the packaging... I'm going back to my Nivea lip balm. Then I went to H&M since I had heard rumors about them starting to sell Real Techniques. And the rumors were true! I got so excited when I saw them, and the cashier laughed at me so much! I got the Expert Face Brush (119sek), because I'm so tired of the streakiness that comes with the normal foundation brush. I already love it!

I have a teeny The Body Shop haul coming next! Hopefully I'll have time for some more Halloween looks in the weekend also. Until next time ♡ 

Friday face

I couldn't help putting on some extra fancy makeup (read: glitter eyeliner) this Friday! So here you go, MOTD:

Face:

- Isadora Wake Up Make Up (00 Fair)
- MAC Prep+Prime Highlighting Pen (Light Boost)
- Isadora Velvet Touch Powder (010 Translucent)
- Sleek Face Form (Light)
Eyes:
- Isadora Eyebrow Pencil (Dark Brown)
- Catrice Liquid Liner
- Essence Crystal Eyeliner (Rosy Rush)
- Lumene Cloudberry Volume Serum Mascara
Lips:
- MAC Lipstick (Goddess Of The Sea)

Is it Halloween yet?

Seriously guys, I don't think I have ever been so excited for halloween! We don't really celebrate it in Sweden, but I am determined to find an occasion where I can dress up anyway! Until then, I'll play with makeup and pretend I'm a witch anyway... (Guess who's going go rewatch AHS Coven while waiting for the next season?)

What I used for this look

Face:

- Isadora Wake Up Make Up (00 Fair)

- MAC Prep+Prime Highlighting Pen (Light Boost)

- Isadora Velvet Touch Powder (010 Translucent)

- Sleek Face Form (Light)

Eyes:

- Isadora Brow Pencil (Dark Brown)

- NYX Eyeshadow Base (Skin Tone)

- Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (Milk Chocolate, Candies Violet, Champagne Truffle)

- 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette (Dark purple)

Lips:

- MAC Up The Amp

- Isadora Inliner Kajal (51 Indian Black)

Monthly favorites - September 2014

September -  the after birthday month, aka the month where I spend all money I get as a present! Well, half of it I spent on a Nintendo 3DS XL, but I have got some beauty things to show you also. 

 First I've finally got the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette. This is my first high end palette, and it's so amazing! The packaging, shades, quality - everything is on POINT! My favorite shades are Salted Caramel, Champagne Truffel, Cherry Cordial and Cremé Brulee.
My second makeup favorite is the Catrice Liquid Liner in Dating Joe Black. It has a very fine tip, opaque matte black finish, and is long lasting. It quickly became my favorite eyeliner!

For nails, I haven't actually used any perfect autumn shades really. I do have two autumn appropriate nailpolishes that I love though: Isadora Wonder Nail in 756 Aquatic, and Depend in 381.

Now when autumn has come, and the weather is colder my skin is a lot drier. So in kind of a rush, my mom got me Garnier Nordic Moisture Match for combination to oily skin. I thought it would dry me out like The Body Shop's moisturiser for combination - but it doesn't! It's just perfect!
Another thing that belongs to autumn is warm, cozy and deeper perfumes - I haven't invested in one yet but until then I'll use Nocibe EdT Ylang Musc.

Last but not least - my favorite game this month is without hesitation Animal Crossing New Leaf! I've heard about it all over tumblr, and I couldn't resist the cuteness and I finally got it.

And also, why not share my Youtube favorites?

NikkieTutorials super cool tutorial with the new Viva Glam Rihanna lipstick, and Samantha at Batalash absolutely gorgeous eyemake with NARS Persia that I need like, now.

Makeup Swap

Hello!
So a couple of weeks ago I made a post at makeupsocial, asking if anyone was up for a makeup swap! The first who responded was Sarah (@mlijeko), and we decided to do one! We e-mailed eachother, decided that we would get eachother 5 products, whereof one would be high end. Three weeks later I had a package waiting for me at Ica, and I could not wait to open it and see what's inside!

Shall we?

This is what Sarah got me! MAC Prep+Prime Highlighter in Light Boost, Catrice Liquid Liner in Dating Joe Black, Essence Crystal Eyeliner in Rosy Rush, Wet N Wild Lipstick in Cinnamon Spice and Essence Colour Adapting Powder Blush in Beauti-Fall Red (nice pun there).

Swatches of everything! Highlighter, Catrice liner, Essence liner, blush, lipstick. 

The highlighter is the perfect shade, though I'm not very good at application yet so I can't really love it... I need some new brushes. Out of all of the products, I think the Catrice eyeliner and Wet N Wild lipstick are my favorites. Eyeliner is an essential for me, all year round, every day of the week, and I'm a bit bored of my Isadora eyeliner. This new one is matte black, has a very fine tip and lasts all day! I love it! The lipstick is a gorgeous shade, a browney wine red. Absolutely perfect for fall and the pigmentation is great! I have yet to wear it out though. (I wondered how they thought with the packaging. Why can't I screw the lipstick all the way down?).

However, the Essence liner is gorgeous, it's almost like duochrome! I hope I get the opportunity to use it soon. And I know the blush seems boring, but just wait...

Blush swatch! It's supposed to adapt to your pH-level on your skin. Left most finger is maybe 30 seconds after application, middle is directly after application. It's shimmery white in pan. 

Believe it or not, the colour adapting blush WORKS! I've been skeptical to colour adapting products, it sounds gimmicky, but I'm seriously impressed. It doesn't show up well on the photo, but you can see that on my finger left most, it's way more pink than on the other finger and in pan. I'll have to take a photo of how it looks on my face, as it is really pretty! (The packaging is also really cute ♡)

Overall I'm super happy with this swap, Sarah is a lovely girl and has good taste in lipsticks! Making a swap can be very risky, especially if you don't know or have met the person you're going to do the swap with. I can say I was very lucky, but I really believe that most people are good people! So. if you want to do a swap, please consider getting to know the person first. And to make it a fair swap, decide an amount of products or an amount of money to spend. This can be a bit tricky as prices on makeup vary a lot country to contry, but you'll have to decide what you think is fair yourself.

Now we're talking neglecting

There's been a while!
But I decided I wanted to start blogging again because I'm so bored. So bored. I played a lot of LOL last year but for some reason I quit and I didn't have a hobby anymore! Then I found makeup. Oh dear makeup. It all started in Paris this spring when I got my first MAC lipsticks. And so addiction started to grow... After a while I decided, since I am also demi-vegetarian, that I would only buy cruelty free makeup. I don't want to support companies harming bunnies! ): It's such a small and easy thing if you do your research!
Since makeup has become a pretty big interest of mine it's probably going to take up the main part of the blog, but I still love my games, dancing and my lolita dresses!

Until next time!