Jul 21, 2011

Magnolia Makeup Fire Water Collection - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

Magnolia Makeup Fire Water Collection - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...


Magnolia Makeup recently released their new summer collection - Fire Water Collection - which debuted at The Make Up Show Chicago back in June. In typical Magnolia fashion, these colors are fun and bright and range from red, to yellow to green and blue! The colors fit right in with the Fire Water theme with red, yellow and gold representing the Fire while blues and greens pay homage to Water. There are 7 new pigments in this collection all with color appropriate names and a southern feel!

Gold Nugget - A richly opaque, pure gold color. The guys will be panning for your attention!!
Rio - As vibrant and beautiful as its namesake. Rio is a bright yellow with citrine shine!!
Reptile - An acid green straight from the sportman's paradise!!
Fire Water - A sapphire blue with aqua sparkle, this color just begs you to dive in!!
Cayenne - A wickedly spicy vermillion with gold sparks!
Creole Tomato - A vibrant matte crimson that just makes your mouth water.
Hydrate - Bright matte blue never looked so good!

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My Five Ps
Price 
Each Magnolia Makeup Pigment retails for $10 for 2.5-3g of product in a 10g jar. I have always given my opinion on the pricing on these pigments - that they are a bit pricey - but as my confidence in the product has grown so has my tolerance of the price. 
When compared to MAC Pigments which are $19.50 for 4.5g, the Magnolia Pigments are about 1/2 the price for about 2/3 the amount of product. So you still get much more for your money per ounce (MAC $4.33 vs. MM $3.33). In a more fitting match-up, when lined up against Sugarpill Loose Eyeshadows, which are $12 for 5g, then Magnolia Makeup Pigments work out to be more expensive per ounce (SP $2.40 vs. MM $3.33). Another mineral brand that comes to mind is Pure Luxe, which has pigments for $9.50 in a 10g jar....which means the jar is sized at 10g but you only get whatever product fits in it typically 2.5g-3.5g (with the sifter and based on volume). Similar price to Magnolia Makeup. The moral of the story is that the Magnolia Makeup Pigments are moderately based based on the market and the amount of product. You may think you are getting a better deal from other mineral makeup lines but you are just getting less product for around the same price per ounce. Don't be fooled by the sample jars and $2-$3 price tag.
As I said earlier, I was never thrilled with the price to begin with. But as Magnolia Makeup has proven quality time and time again paired with fast shipping and good customer service, I must say I don't think the price is so much of an issue anymore. You are paying for great products which are comparable to higher end brands for a fraction of the price. it's really now up to you to decide if they are worth it to you because they are to me.


Purchasing 
The Magnolia Makeup Collection is available on the Magnolia Makeup website and also at their New Orleans location. These pigments are now available permanently for the next 6 months and will slowly be retired thereafter. Get them while you can if you are interested.

Packaging 
The pigments come in simple packaging - 10g gram clear plastic jars with black screw-on lids. Each jar comes with a sifter, a company label on the lid and product label (pigment name). The jars are solid enough for travel and store easily. Since they are clear you can readily identify the color without popping open the lids. Actually I realized that these are very much like the Make Up For Ever Star Powder or Pure Pigment jars. Go figure!
I must say that there is a bit of a 'spillage' issue for me with these jars since a little pigment always ends up in the grooves of the screw-top and inevitably spills onto my desk. This is true for all loose pigments it seems even MAC, Illamasqua, MUFE....so it comes with the territory. Just an item to note...
Product & Performance
These pigments stay true to what I have come to know and love about Magnolia Makeup Pigments. They are bright and ultra-pigmented with great staying power.

There are two matte pigments - Hydrate and Creole Tomato. These are my two favorites not only because they are matte but also because the color payoff is intense and the colors are vivid without being chalky as some mattes can be. The matte red, Creole Tomato, is the most perfect red eyeshadow I have ever found. Hydrate reminds me of MAC Blue Cyan Pigment or MAC Zingy Eyeshadow.

The remaining pigments are super shimmery and full of sparkle. These apply very well but lose some of the sparkle and shimmer when applied to the lids. I recommend using a stickier base with these because they will require something to stick to on the lid. There will also be some fall out when these are applied and blended. These colors are still very pigmented and super intense.

All the pigments wear very well throughout the day and blend very well together or with other eyeshadows. The colors may seem similar to other Magnolia Makeup pigments and I have done comparison swatches for good measure. They are actually very unique to the entire line.
Overall
This collection is a great collection with beautiful colors. The matte colors are divine! The shimmery colors will require a stickier base for better adhesion but still work very well overall. The colors are also unique enough to stand out against the other Magnolia Makeup pigments. I say definitely check these colors out and be sure to grab what you want before they are no longer available.

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PICTURES & SWATCHES

Gold Nugget - A richly opaque, pure gold color. The guys will be panning for your attention!!
Rio - As vibrant and beautiful as its namesake. Rio is a bright yellow with citrine shine!!
Reptile - An acid green straight from the sportman's paradise!!

Creole Tomato - A vibrant matte crimson that just makes your mouth water.

Fire Water - A sapphire blue with aqua sparkle, this color just begs you to dive in!!

Cayenne - A wickedly spicy vermillion with gold sparks!
Hydrate - Bright matte blue never looked so good!


Rio, Gold Nugget, Cayenne, Reptile

Rio, Gold Cayenne

Cayenne, Reptile

Creole Tomato, Hydrate, Fire Water


Fire Water, Mystique, Hydrate, Chlorine, Aerial, Colures


Green Tea, Reptile, Garden District


Rio, Gold Nugget, Saffronia, Tart, Gilded


Cayenne, Persimmon, Big Shot, Kente, O.S.C, Gold Nugget



'Heat Wave' Look

'Heat Wave' Look

Many of us may be afraid of red eyeshadow (present company included) and for good reason! Red is a very bold color for eyeshadow that can translate into allergy eyes if not done well. Plus, there are very few red eyeshadows on the market due to red dye irritants and, of course, demand (the regular makeup consumer will probably never buy red eyeshadow).

But for us bold makeup lovers, a great red eyeshadow is a welcomed addition to our overflowing stash. Magnolia Makeup released a vivid matte red eyeshadow with their Fire Water Collection and I have been dying to use it! What better day than today smack in the middle of a heat wave? I really like the result...it almost glows with intensity. Grab this one if you have been looking for a great red!


Eyes:
PRIME:
I started off with NARS Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base all over my lid up to the brow bone. I applied MAC Layin' Low Paintpot (creamy beige) all over my lid and slightly into the crease as my primary base. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush

COLOR:
On the inner lid and tearduct area I used MAC Blanc Type Eyeshadow (matte ivory). MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
For the middle of the lid I used MUFE #75 Eyeshadow (matte neon pink). MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
For the outer lid I used Magnolia Makeup Creole Tomato Pigment (matte vivid red). MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
On the outer V and crease I used MUFE #92 Eyeshadow (matte vibrant purple). Sonia Kaskuk Large Crease Brush
For the browbone area and for blending I used MAC Wild By Nature Eyeshadow (matte camel). Sonia Kaskuk Large Crease Brush
For highlight I used Bare Escentuals Clear Radiance All Over Face Color (shimmery light pink). MAC 252 Large Shader Brush
On the lower lashline I applied and smudged Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Peacock (deep teal). Cozzette Eyebrow/Mini Shader D230 Brush

BROWS:
My brows are filled in with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Strut and MAC Embark Eyeshadow (matte reddened brown). Paula Dorf Eye Definer Flat Top Brush

DEFINE:
I lined my upper lashline with Benefit Babe Cake Eyeliner in Black. MAC 263 Small Angle Brush
I lined my lower waterline with L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner in Black. Sigma Eye Liner - E05 Brush
I used Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara for my lashes and added Beautee Sense Princess Eyelashes for effect. Duo Eyelash Adhesive - Clear





Lips:

POLISH:
For my lips I used MAC Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker in Stylesetter (raspberry pink) topped with MAC English Accents Lipglass (creamy pink).

 
Face:
FINISH:
I primed my skin with MAC Oil Control Lotion and Phillips Milk of Magnesia - Cozzette P340 Round Foundation Brush. I used NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Tahoe - Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush - for my face and set my t-zone with MAC Skinfinish Natural in Dark - Sigma Round Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush. I used MUFE #12 Full Cover Concealer - Cozzette P350 Cylinder Concealer Brush - under my eyes set with Benefit Powderflage - Cozzette S150 Cylinder Setting Brush.

I used Tarte Amazonian12-Hour Clay Blush in Amused (matte bright pink) for my cheeks - Cozzette Contour Stylist S135 Brush - and MUFE #2 Sculpting Kit for contour - Cozzette Contour Stylist S135 Brush.



 

Jul 20, 2011

'Oh So Special' Look

'Oh So Special' Look

This look was inspired by the Sleek Makeup Oh So Special Palette. It's very light and fresh and is perfect for anyone seeking a daytime look with a little color.


Eyes:
PRIME:
I started off with NARS Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base all over my lid up to the brow bone. I applied MAC Layin' Low Paintpot (creamy beige) all over the lid and into the crease my primary bases. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush

COLOR:
On the inner lid and tearduct area I used Gateau Eyeshadow (frosty light pink) from the Sleek Makeup Oh So Special Palette. MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
For the middle lid I used Ribbon Eyeshadow (matte light pink) from the Sleek Makeup Oh So Special Palette. MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
On the outer lid and crease I used Celebrate Eyeshadow (frosty blackened berry) from the Sleek Makeup Oh So Special PaletteSonia Kaskuk Large Crease Brush
For the browbone area and for blending I used The Mail Eyeshadow (matte camel) from the Sleek Makeup Oh So Special Palette. MAC 252 Large Shader Brush
For highlight I used I used Bow Eyeshadow (matte camel) from the Sleek Makeup Oh So Special Palette. MAC 252 Large Shader Brush
On the lower lashline I applied and smudged Gateau Eyeshadow (frosty light pink) - INNER, Ribbon Eyeshadow (matte light pink) - MIDDLE and Celebrate Eyeshadow (frosty blackened berry) - OUTER from the Sleek Makeup Oh So Special Palette. Cozzette Eyebrow/Mini Shader D230 Brush

BROWS:
My brows are filled in with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Strut and MAC Embark Eyeshadow (matte reddened brown). Cozzette Eyebrow/Mini Shader D230 Brush

DEFINE:
I lined my upper lashline with Benefit Babe Cake Eyeliner in Black. MAC 263 Small Angle Brush
I lined my lower waterline with L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner in Black. Sigma Eye Liner - E05 Brush
I used Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara for my lashes and added Beautee Sense Annie Eyelashes for effect. Duo Eyelash Adhesive - Clear



Lips:
POLISH:
For my lips I used Sleek True Color Sheer Lipstick in Liqueur (creamy nude coral).



Face:
FINISH:
I primed my skin with MAC Oil Control Lotion. I used NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Tahoe - Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush - for my face and set my t-zone with MAC Skinfinish Natural in Dark - Sigma Round Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush. I used MAC Prep+ Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast and MUFE #12 Full Cover Concealer - Cozzette P350 Cylinder Concealer Brush - under my eyes set with Benefit Powderflage - Cozzette S150 Cylinder Setting Brush.

I used Sleek Makeup Life's A Peach Blush (matte peach) for my cheeks - MAC 129 Blush/Powder Brush and MUFE #2 Sculpting Kit for contour - Cozzette Contour Stylist S135 Brush.

Life's A PEACH! :)



Jul 18, 2011

'Blue Fields' Look

'Blue Fields' Look

Happy Monday to all! You may notice I did something very heart wrenching for me...I cut my hair! : (
It was out of necessity because my ends were really damaged from bleaching (my mistake) and had to GO! It was a travesty as I watched 6 inches fall to the ground. Boooo hoooo hooo! Yes I pretty much cried...but alas it will grow back in a few months and my hair is much healthier now than ever.

ADVICE: Never combine color correcting, bleaching and color all in the same day! Your hair will suffer the consequences!

The look today was inspired by Nicki Minaj again. There was an E! Special on her career and she wore this great sky blue and green look during her interview that I had to recreate.


Eyes: 
PRIME:
I started off with NARS Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base all over my lid up to the brow bone. I applied Shu Uemera Painting Liner in Vivid Blue (matte sky blue) over my lid and MAC Layin' Low Paintpot (creamy beige) onto the crease and browbone area as my primary bases. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush

COLOR:
On the inner lid and tearduct area I used MAC Clear Sky Blue Pigment (matte robin's egg blue). MAC 242 Eye Shader Brush
For the middle lid I used MAC Blue Cyan Pigment (matte cyan blue). MAC 242 Eye Shader Brush
On the outer lid and crease I used Inglot #331 Eyeshadow (matte grass green). Sonia Kaskuk Large Crease Brush
For blending and highlight I used MAC Wild By Nature Eyeshadow (matte camel). Sonia Kaskuk Large Crease Brush
On the lower lashline I applied and smudged MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in Landscape Green (matte cyan blue). Cozzette Eyebrow/Mini Shader D230 Brush

BROWS:
My brows are filled in with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Strut and MAC Embark Eyeshadow (matte reddened brown). Cozzette Eyebrow/Mini Shader D230 Brush

DEFINE:
I lined my upper lashline with Benefit Babe Cake Eyeliner in Black. MAC 263 Small Angle Brush
I lined my lower waterline with L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner in Black. Sigma Eye Liner - E05 Brush
I used Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara for my lashes and added Beautee Sense Annie Eyelashes for effect. Duo Eyelash Adhesive - Clear




Lips:
POLISH:
For my lips I used MAC Kissable Lipcolor in So Vain (creamy muted coral).




Face: 
FINISH:
I primed my skin with Inglot Under Makeup Base. I used NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Tahoe - Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush - for my face and set my t-zone with MAC Skinfinish Natural in Dark - Sigma Round Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush. I used MAC Prep+ Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast and MUFE #12 Full Cover Concealer - Cozzette P350 Cylinder Concealer Brush - under my eyes set with Benefit Powderflage -
Cozzette S150 Cylinder Setting Brush.

I used MAC Ripe Peach Blush Ombre (satin pinky peach) for my cheeks - MAC 129 Blush/Powder Brush and MUFE #2 Sculpting Kit for contour -
Cozzette Contour Stylist S135 Brush.




Jul 15, 2011

Sleek MakeUP Caribbean Collection: CURACAO i-Divine Palette, ARUBA Blush & BONAIRE Pout Polish - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

Sleek MakeUP Caribbean Collection: CURACAO i-Divine PaletteARUBA BlushBONAIRE Pout Polish  
THOUGHTS and SWATCHES... 


Inspired by dynamic colours reminiscent of the Caribbean, SleekMakeUP has launched a Limited Edition CARIBBEAN COLLECTION that combines 2 key Spring/Summer 2011 trends: 1970’s beauty and bold brights to catapult you into that holiday feeling.



 Curacao i-Divine Palette
Embrace the exotic colours of paradise with the 12 shades of the CURAÇAO I -DIVINE eyeshadow palette, a mix of bold corals, ocean blue hues, and tangerine brights. From deep sea blue’s to zesty oranges and vivid coral’s, create endless striking looks using contrasting shades or make an entrance with an effortless sweep of colour. 
Price: $10.50
Size: 12 x 1.1g/0.03 oz.  


 
Bonaire Pout Polish
Get luscious lips with Bonaire pout polish, the tangerine tinted gloss is enriched with jojoba, avocado, and sweet almond oil as well as SPF15, so you can simmer away in summer’s rays whilst your pout remains perfectly protected. 
Price: $7.80 (as posted on the website)
Size: 10g/0.34 oz.


Aruba Blush
Also in the collection is SleekMakeUP’s ARUBA BLUSH. Be brave and brighten your look with a cheeky hint of coral and turn into a bird of paradise with Caribbean inspired colours! Aruba blush provides the ultimate colour of paradise, sweep on lightly for a tropical wash of coral or layer to build an intense holiday hue.  
Price: $6.50
                            Size: 8g/0.27 oz.

The Caribbean Collection launched on the July 6th and is available for a limited time only.

Availability: www.SleekMakeUP.com

Standard International Delivery within 10 to 15 working days
$13.50

International destinations are considered as all other countries not listed as European.  Please note we do not ship to the African continent.
 

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My Five Ps
Price 
The entire Sleek MakeUP Caribbean Collection is now available on the Sleek MakeUP website for us international beauty lovers with a flat international shipping rate of $13.50.

The Curacao i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette retails for $10.50 for 12 eyeshadows at 1.1g/0.03oz each. This means you get a grand total of 13.2g/0.36oz. of product for $10.50. Compare these to M∙A∙C Eyeshadows which are $14.50 for 1.5g of product. Yes, for less than the cost of one MAC Eyeshadow you can get 12 comparable (sometimes superior) eyeshadows! Even with shipping these amount to roughly $2 per eyeshadow. Quite a steal.     
The Bonaire Pout Polish retails for $6.00 but is listed as $7.80 on the website. I received confirmation from Sleek MakeUP that the Bonaire Pout Polish should be $6.00 but I will use both prices for comparison. This price has me a bit shaky since this is really just a tinted lip balm. $6 is quite a chunk to spend on a simple balm when Chapstick and Blistex come in under $3...even EOS which is the new craze is still only $3.29. Honestly not worth it to us here in the US unless you want the complete collection for novelty. You can for sure get a cheaper lip balm locally.
The Aruba Blush rounds out the collection and retails at $6.50 for 8g/0.27 oz. This is a great price for a blush even at a drugstore level. A NYX Powder Blush is $6 for 0.18 oz while a Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon  Powder Blush is roughly $3 for 0.14 oz. So you will get 1-1/2 to 2 times the amount of product in a Sleek MakeUP Blush for relatively the same price per oz of NYX and Wet 'n' Wild Blushes. Come on...can you smell a bargain here?

Now of course we have to factor in the shipping because these products are not available in the US (as yet...rumors are they are coming to the US very soon) and you will need to pay for international shipping. Honestly I don't think the shipping is outlandish either since they are coming from the UK afterall. Now obviously the more products you purchase the better the deal will be since the $13.50 shipping cost covers the entire purchase. Plus you can combine your order with friends to break up the shipping costs.

These are considered drugstore makeup in the UK....our equivalent of say NYX or Wet 'n' Wild. The prices are comparable to our (cheaper) drugstore brands such as NYX and Wet 'n' Wild which is awesome if you ask me!





Purchasing 
The Sleek MakeUP Caribbean Collection is available in the UK at Superdrug Stores but for beauty lovers in the USA we are only able to order these palettes from the Sleek MakeUP website. However, there are plans to supply Sleek MakeUP in US stores very soon so be on the lookout for that! Remember that these are only available for a limited time so you may want to grab them while you can.

Packaging 
The Curacao i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette is a sleek (quite fitting) black palette filled with 12 eyeshadows and a full-sized mirror inside the lid. The eyeshadows are a bit smaller than a M∙A∙C Eyeshadow and are embossed with a waffle design. They also come with a double ended sponge applicator which is recommended for 'best results' - for me these are toss-outs!

The palette sports the sleek makeup logo on the front and a label on the back indicating the name of the palette, the ingredients and all that jazz. One thing that I love about Sleek MakeUP is the fact that they listen to feedback from bloggers and customers. The eyeshadows palettes previously did not come with individual names for the eyeshadows which of course can be a bit tedious in our beauty world of swatches and looks. The palettes now come with a clear plastic insert sheet that bears 12 names for the eyeshadows! Now it's easy to reference the colors without creating your own labeling scheme. Even though this is a huge improvement for sure, you may mix the inserts up if you own a few of these palettes plus you may lose the sheet accidentally (or on purpose) once you start using the product. I have written the palette name on each insert to keep from swapping them with others. Maybe Sleek MakeUP will step it up a notch and add a label with the names on the back on the palettes or even imprint the names on the inside. This sounds a bit costly though so who knows...

***If you are a drinker or bartender then you should be familiar with all these names...who at Sleek drinks guys? Spill the martini!***




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The Bonaire Pout Polish comes in a flat screw-top jar. The lid has a fun tropical print fitting with the Caribbean theme. The thing that bothers me the most about containers like this is the fact that you have to use your fingers or a lip brush to apply the product. This leads to contamination of the product inside and sticky fingers. I prefer a tube for lip balms since it's easy to reapply throughout the day as we normally do with balms. The jar is secure and rigid so it won't break in your purse and it great for travel. It's your preference if you like a jar or a tube of lip balm.




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The Aruba Blush comes in a sleek rectangular snap-close case similar to the eyeshadow palette with a full-sized mirror inside the lid. The lid also has the same fun tropical print fitting with the Caribbean theme. I actually really like the packaging of these blushes because they are sleek and compact and sturdy. Nothing cheap or flimsy here. Only drawback, and this is just my personal preference again, is that you cannot tell the blush color by just looking at the package. I love the see-through lids of MAC and Illamasqua Blushes but I also love the sleeker slimmer packages of the NARS and Sleek MakeUP Blushes (which have no see-through lids). This is not such a major deal especially since these blushes have names which are easier to associate with a color. But when you have a big collection your mental inventory system will take all the help it can get.





Product & Performance
The Curacao i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette is a color lover's dream! It is filled with super bright vivid colors in both matte and shimmery textures. If you ever wanted a tropical palette of colors then this is the one - pink, yellow, greens, blues, red, orange, purple!

The shimmery shades are to die for! They are extremely rich in color and highly pigmented even without using a primer on the eyelids. The orange, Tequila Sunrise, is similar if not identical to the orange from the Sunset Palette. There are 3 divine greens here too - Apres Midori is a gorgeous sour apple green, Iguana is a sweet teal green and Green Martini is a shimmery moss green. Martini is a icy vanilla that may be too frosty for a brow highlight but perfect for the tearduct area. Singapore Sling is a beautiful rich vivid medium pink while Purple Haze is a deep buttery matte purple.  Blue Hawaiian was not as pigmented as I would like and was a bit hard  to pick up the color. Blue Lagoon while it had better color payoff was not the best in the bunch but what a beautiful color (I'll work for it). Bloody Mary and Screwdriver had me worried since these are the hardest hues to pull off in matte form but Sleek MakeUP made it work. Bloody Mary is a y red that can be built up for more intensity while Screwdriver is truly a vivid pigmented sun yellow. Of course to round out the palette is the necessary matte black shadow - Espresso Martini. The colors work fantastic together to create a bright look but of course you will need a matte highlight and blending shade to bring the look together well. But this palette is meant to be a fun bright palette rather than a staple. They blend well, stay put all day (use a primer of course). The mattes were the most tricky as most mattes tend to be but are not chalky or hard to use.


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The Bonaire Pout Polish is a very sheer lip balm that gets more liquid-y as you apply to your lips. It has a very smooth, soft texture and definitely leaves your lips feeling silky for at least 3 hours. The color looks very vivid in the pot but is very light and will just a add a kiss of tint to your lips. It is not sticky in the slightest and gives the lips a decent level of moisture. It has a faint-to-medium strong cocoa butter scent (each Pout Polish seems to have a different scent intensity) but it isn't too overwhelming unless you have a strong sense of smell or just hate the fragrance itself. There is no significant taste to these (good or repulsive) which is a great thing for me. You also get a lot of product for the price so it will last a very long time....except for the issue with keeping it sanitary in its open jar. While it is a decent product I just don't think it does anything too superior to splurge for on its own. If you want to add to your cart for kicks then it's not a total waste of money because it is pretty decent.
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Now I am in love with the Aruba Blush. This blush is cheap and sleek and packs a lot of color in a single sweep. It is a bright, I mean bright, matte orange tangerine blush. It is highly pigmented so a little goes a very long way. I found that the product was slightly powdery which means it is easier to blend out and lose the color. This is not a bad thing necessarily and works well for this particularly bright color. But it's something to note for more subtle shades. You may need a bit of layering to get a more vivid pop of color. The best thing I found is that this blush is a bright eyeshadow waiting to happen. It is perfect to wear on the eyes so don't be afraid to mix it up! The wear time is about 6-7 hours before it seems to fade a tiny bit and this is usually the case for drugstore/cheaper brands. I find wear time is best over liquid foundation or even a primer. If worn over powder it will fade a bit faster. I got a full day's wear (10 hours) out of this blush over my regular foundation and primer without noticeable fade.

Overall
This collection hits close to home for me of course since I am from the Caribbean and I think Sleek definitely got the color scheme right! The collection is a win for me and I hope you will check them out for sure!

The Curacao i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette is the perfect bright color palette if you have been searching! I am in love with the bright vivid colors in this palette and except for a couple of tedious blue mattes, the whole palette is filled with great eyeshadows. 

The Bonaire Pout Polish is decent but won't steal the show here. You can skip these if you already have a good lip balm. 

The Aruba Blush is great and perfect for deeper skin and lovers of orange blushes. It can also double as a perfect orange eyeshadow for a bright look. This one is a must-see for me so grab it


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PICTURES & SWATCHES


 




 Tequila Sunrise, Martini, Blue Hawaiian, Bloody Mary, Screwdriver, Green Iguana

Tequila Sunrise, Martini, Blue Hawaiian
 
Bloody Mary, Screwdriver, Green Iguana


 Apres Midori, Blue Lagoon, Purple Haze, Green Martini, Singapore Sling, Espresso Martini


Apres Midori, Blue Lagoon, Purple Haze

Green Martini, Singapore Sling, Espresso Martini


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Bonaire Pout Polish (3rd)

 Bonaire Pout Polish


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Aruba Blush

Aruba Blush 


* Products received from Sleek MakeUP for consideration : ) This doesn't affect my opinion just saves me some spending money and allows me to introduce more products to you guys!
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