For the Lazy and/or Layerer: Eyeshadow Sticks

The "My Collection" page on the blog is about half unreviewed products, so I'm going to make a concerted effort to try and talk about some pretty things! I've culled my stash several times over the past year, getting rid of things that no longer work or that don't get the love they deserve, and at this point, I'm pretty happy. I think I've still got a couple purging cycles left (and don't even get me started on my closet), but the effort of trying to decide what to discard is more than I feel like putting forth right now!

I have a zillion "new" lippies (some of which I've had more than a year, hence the scare quotes) and I don't really know where to start, so instead, I'm going to talk about cream eyeshadow! Yay! Eyeshadow!

Clockwise from top left: Laura Mercier Sugar Frost*, Mally Champagne,
Rimmel Bulletproof Beige*, Laura Mercier Rose Gold*, Laura Mercier Khaki,
Laura Mercier Pink Opal*, Boots No7 Cool Mink, BECCA Romanticism*,
Sephora+Pantone Tuscany

I've found that I really adore eyeshadow sticks (it's like drawing on yourself!), and between the generosity of friends and some fortuitous sales, my stash has grown considerably. I now own 7, plus two liquid eyeshadows, which, while slightly less convenient, serve a similar purpose: they work great as quick washes or as bases underneath powder (the "lazy" and "layerer" from the title, respectively).

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Khaki Review and Swatches

I am almost always late in the morning, because I always want that extra few minutes of sleep and tell myself I'll be speedy enough to make up for it. It's rarely true. In an effort to remedy this (while still getting those precious snoozes, of course), I've been trying to streamline my beauty routine. 

If I were extraordinarily efficient, I could do my whole beauty routine in 15 minutes, but I am not, so it usually takes about 25-30. Eye makeup is often a time eater, since applying/blending eyeshadow can be a challenge when tired and mostly blind, so I decided to cave and finally try one of the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks in the hopes it could be a swipe-and-go kind of product.* I chose Khaki, wanting a versatile but not boring neutral, and owning too many (purpley) taupes to justify Amethyst.

a rather uninspiring picture of the unused product

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige Review and Swatches

Part of Maybelline's LE Fashion Week collection were a few new shades of Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows, including a shimmery champagne. I don't find myself wearing the other Color Tattoo I have (Bad to the Bronze) all that often because it's a little dark and really only works if I wear it as a base to a smoky taupe eye, but I bought Barely Beige in the hopes that it could be a good eyeshadow base/quick and easy nude eye.

Maybelline Barely Beige Color Tattoo

Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze Review and Swatches

The new year is a wonderful time to be browsing drugstores, since all the new collections are being released and everything is pretty and new and exciting. This is my first year really paying attention to these things, and let me tell you: there is so much awesomeness. The Finger Paints flakies collection was my first acquisition, but other items on my ZOMG GIMME list are L'Oreal's Infallible Eyeshadow (which I finally got my greedy paws on and will be reviewing shortly!), Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blushes (even though I don't like cream blushes, these are just so cute!), China Glaze's upcoming magnetic collection (AAAAH AFFORDABLE MAGNETIC POLISHES!!!), and today's topic, Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

Currently Coveting: Urban Decay Mini 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Sets in Darks and Brights

Currently Coveting is a near-daily feature on products that look interesting, whether new releases, cult classics, or anything in between!

With the holidays over, there's been an increase in the number of new products available at Sephora and other online beauty retailers––yay! Urban Decay's come out with two new sets of mini eyeliner pencils, one in dark colors and one in bright (though honestly, I think they both have a mix of both those kinds!).

UD Mini 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Sets in Darks (left) and Brights (right); images via Sephora (both sets are linked in there––have fun figuring out where the division lies!)

The Darks set comes with eyeliners in Corrupt, Graffiti, Oil Slick, Ransom, and Stash, and the Brights set includes El Dorado, Rockstar, Electric, Binge, and Corrupt. Both sets have 5 x 0.02 oz liners for $19 (compared to the full-size 0.04 oz liners for $18), and are a great way to try out 24/7 liners if you haven't before! I'm going through a not-wearing-eyeliner stage right now, so I don't think I'll purchase either, but I'm sorely tempted to just because they're such a great deal.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt Review and Swatches

The second eye product I bought when in New York is the ever-hyped Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt, touted as a great cream shadow on its own, and an equally great base for other shadows.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt

E.L.F. Cream Eyeshadow in Dawn Review and Swatches

I went upstate last weekend to visit the family for Labor Day, and managed to convince my brother to stop at Kmart on the way up so I could pick up a few things.  One such thing was this cream eyeshadow from E.L.F.'s studio line.  I was drawn in by the neutral shimmery brown, and have been wanting to try a cream eyeshadow (the only other one I've ever used was not very successful), so plunked down the $3 for it.  Following, my thoughts.

Dawn in window sunlight

Wet N Wild Idol Eyes Creme Shadow in Pixie Review and Swatches

I am a fundamentally lazy person, and the idea of being able to sweep an eyeshadow pencil over my lid and be done is immensely appealing.  Walgreens was having a sale on Wet N Wild and I decided to pick up the WNW creme eye shadow pencil and see if it could be my one-stop-shop solution for early mornings.

Image from wnwbeauty.com