Aromaleigh Ignis Antiquita Permanent Collection Release (swatches)

I'm so excited to be sharing this!!!

Aromaleigh has come out with an all new, permanent collection of eyeshadows.  Most of their collections have around 20 shadows a piece.  This collection contains a MONSTER 40 of them!!  Each shadow is named for a woman in history.  These women are not all so well known, but each is interesting and strong in her own right.  Half of the fun of this was reading about each woman the shadows was named for!

These are all multichromes.  What this means is that they have multiple layers to them....complexities of color the likes of which I am honestly blown away by.  Kristen has outdone herself with this collection, and this has fast become a favorite collection for me.  The full sized jars aren't available till January 1st but you can purchase a sample set here.

So what do you say we get on with the swatchfest???

First of all, these shadows can be deceiving!  Picture one shows them in indirect light in my bedroom.  They look almost matte in this!

However, get these babies in sunlight and THIS HAPPENS....

Those are the exact same shadows!!!  Same order.  Here they are in different lighting.

Do you see what I mean?  They're so complex, I'm stunned each time I look at them.  There are so many options with these!

Btw, these five shadows are as follows:  Top Left is Hildegard, Top Right is Clotilda, Middle is Chiomara, Bottom Left is Ursula, and Bottom Right is Adelaide.

Here's the next grouping.

And here also.

These are:  Top Left is Aradia, Top Right is Blenda, Middle is Khotulun, Bottom Left is Penthesilea, and Bottom Right is Hervor.

Here is Hervor by herself.  OMG!!!!

Here's the next group!

Top Left is Tomoe, Top Right is Telesilla, Middle is Skuld, Bottom Left is Hypatia, and Bottom Right is Trotula.

Next up we have on the Top Left Gwenllian (HOLY SMOKES), Top Right is Aethelflaed, Middle is Razia, Bottom Left is Boudicca (whom btw has always been a favorite figure in history for me), and Bottom Right is Honoria.





In this group we have Lozen on the Top Left, Yael on the Top Right, Agrippina in the Middle, Arachidamia on the Bottom Left and Agnodice on the Bottom Right.

Do you watch The Vikings on The History Channel??  Ragnar Lothbrok's wife is the first shadow on this group, at the Top Left.  Her name is Lagertha.  Then next to her we have Phryne, in the Middle is Tamar, on the Bottom Left is Melisende, and Bottom Right is Zenobia.

Two Groups left!!!  Top Left is Sappho, then comes Theodora, Middle is Enheduanna, Bottom Left is Tomyris, and Bottom Right is Eleanor.  You know, Eleanor of Aquitaine?

Last group!  Top Left is Lucrezia.  Lucrezia Borgia.  She is soooo interesting, even before the Borgias tv show.  Next to her is Freydis, in the Middle is Hapshepsut (the Egyptian Pharoa).  On the Bottom Left is Urraca, and next to her is Aspasia.

Bonus pic... this is Aspasia, the very last shadow, over a black base.  This is why I love minerals, especially multiple layered, complex multichromes like these.

There you have it!!!  These are all in the permanent line, so they aren't going ANYWHERE!!!!  Let me know which ones are your favorites!!!!  So far mine are Hervor, Chlotilda, Gwenllian, Penthesilea, Chiomara, Hildegard, Adelaide, Ursula....there are so many!!!!

Happy Playing!

Look with Aromaleigh Ignis Antiquita Eyeshadows!

I'm so excited to be blogging about this!

Aromaleigh has come out with a new permanent collection of shadows....40 OF THEM!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!  They're called Ignis Antiquita (Ancient Fire I believe...) And each shadow is named for a woman out of history that has a story that's not often told...and one that is full of interesting tidbits!  They're all gorgeous....they're mutlichromes, meaning that there are multiple layers of beautiful color within each shadow.  Each one is wearable for the day to day but are so complex that it's really hard to describe each one!  I'll have a post soon of them all swatched in various lighting to show how different they look.  In the meantime, here's a LOTD with two of them!

Eyes:

Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creasless 12 hour smoothing eye primer
Tarte Smouldereyes in Silver Black on lid
AL Blanche on browbone
AL Hervor (Ignis Antiquita) on lid patted on
AL Clothilda (Ignis Antiquita) in crease
Tarte Skinny Smouldereyes in Onyx on lower lashline and waterline
Hervor dry over outer 1/2 of lower liner
Clothilda dry over inner 1/2 of lower liner
MAC Blacktrack on upper lashline
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara

This is inside.  ;)  LOOK HOW LONG MY HAIR IS!!!! It's almost to my bra strap!

Outside.  Forgive the squinty eyes....I was trying to get the shadows to photograph so was looking into the sun.

Face:

Hourglass veil primer
AL Silk Primer Powder
AL 2YL Dewdrop Foundation
AL Glamoured powder in Triteleia
AL Pure Rouge in Aurora

Lips:

Red Apple Lipstick in Oh My Guava
Buxom Gloss in Amanda

Couple observations....I went through some health issues around this time last year, that meant my skintone looked VERY yellow.  Sigh.  Now that I'm better I thought the 2YL may be too yellow but these pics, especially in the sun, tell me otherwise.  YAY!  It pretty much matches exactly.  Also I never really pay attention, but you can really REALLY tell in these how much weight I've lost....WOWZA!

Look for my swatch post very soon!  Thia

Christmas in July....Candy Canes and Gumdrops....

This was yesterdays look.  I think it turned out well!

Eyes:

TFSI
ELF cream liner in ivory all over eye area
AL Gothic on lid
AL Mistletoe in crease and over lower outer 1/2 of liner
ELF Black cream liner
TFSI Glitter glue on lid and under eye
AL Carmilla glitter on lid
Sugarpill Decora in crease and over lower inner 1/2 of liner
Maybelline Great Lash Big in Blackest Black

Face:

Elf HD Powder
Meow Pampered Puss foundation in Sleek Abyssinian
Elf HD Powder
NARS Orgasm Blush

Lips:

Morgana Valentine lipstick
Silk Naturals Icing Lipgloss

I *should* get my Spectrum  order today, but I'm thinking my Meow won't get here till tomorrow or Saturday.  I also placed a small order at Silk Naturals last night, since I am in dire need of a few of their skincare items I use daily.  :D

TGIAF...Thank God It's Almost Friday!!!!

Makeup Looks Theme of the Week.....Christmas in July!!! Sugar Plum Fairy

So all the Christmas in July sales have inspired me....I'm going to start setting a weekly theme for my looks each week, and the first one is Christmas in July!

I  managed to get in on two Christmas in July events.  First off I got six of the Limited Edition Christmas shadows from Meow Cosmetics that I wanted to get this past Holiday Season but was unable to.  Then I placed my first order at Spectrum Cosmetics!  I just happened on the site when searching Etsy, and she was having a Christmas in July sale that I took advantage of.  I got a set of 10 3 g eyeshadow jars (your choice!) as well as 4 seperate jars for other shadows in the same size.  She also carries 5 g jars.  She has some GREAT irridescent shadows that I can't wait to try and to review....the pictures of them over a deep black base are GORGEOUS!

On to my first look this week.....in honor of these shadows that I purchased from Meow, the first look is a sugar plum fairy look.  :D

Eyes:

TFSI all over eye area
ELF cream eyeliner in ivory on browbone
Indelible gel liner in marcasite on lid
Shiseido hydra cream shadow in Violet Visions over Marcasite
SN Blue Butterfly on inner 1/3 of lid and inner corner
AL Almost Midnight on middle 1/3 of lid
AL Phaedra on outer 1/3 of lid
SN Mystic on lower 1/2 of crease
AL Dulcinea on upper 1/2 of crease
AL Butterfly kiss on browbone
ELF Cream liner in Punk Purple to line
AL Frankincense in crease and dry over lower liner
Maybelline Great Lash Big in Blackest Black

Inside

Outside

Face:

SN Blur powder
SN Medium Ivory Custom Foundation in my mix
SN Blur
SN Lady blush

Lips:

Morgana Cryptoria Sugar Plum Rum
Morgana Cryptoria Lillian

Here's another pic of the whole thing, with a different lip.

Lips:

SN Mirage
SN Icing Gloss

I like that lip, but there's something about the deep purple lip that goes with the Sugar Plum Fairy theme.

I also colored my hair today...here's the top.  It's more ashy blonde now, though pics still bring out the warmth.

I was considering changing it again, but I am still LOVING the Blonde.....so it's staying for now!  :D

The Grinch's Mutiny.....Inspired by Phyrra.....

So recently I've felt the itch to really step outside of the box with my use of color in looks.  I mean really do things that I've never done before, combining colors in different ways than I normally do or doing new techniques.  I think I just get in my normal groove, doing my normal thing, and get stuck in the day to day and forget that there are new and exciting things out there.  I guess it's like life in general can be sometimes LOL.

So I started to peruse some of your blogs.  A LOT.  Just surfing around, looking at looks, playing with my collection, that sort of thing.  So today's look is inspired by Phyrra and all the ways she uses color.  This is but one of the looks on her blog that have inspired me.  Her color combinations are done in ways that I wouldn't usually think of combining them, and I find that fascinating.  With her permission, I've linked to her blog and look so that you can see them.  My thanks, Phyrra!!! :D

Eyes:

Monistat powder gel as primer
Indelible cream shadow in Bare Necessity on browbone
Shiseido hyrdo-powder shadow in Aqua Shimmer on lid
Hi Fi The Grinch patted onto lower 1/2 of lid
Aromaleigh Just Like Heaven on upper 1/2 of lid, blended into The Grinch
NARS Abyssinia on browbone
Maybelline Define a Line in Ebony on upper and lower lashlines and waterline
Morgana Mutiny in crease blended into Just Like Heaven, then patted on outer 1/2 of lower liner
Aromaleigh Just like Heaven patted on inner 1/3 of lower liner and blended
Hi Fi The Grinch on inner V and inner 1/3 of lid and blended
Maybelline Great Lash Big mascara in Blackest Black

Face:

Monistat Powder Gel as primer
SN Oil Control Blur
SN Medium coverage Ivory Foundation in my mix
SN Oil Control Blur
SN Matte blush in Maybe Baby

Lips:

Morgana Lipstick in Coraline's Kiss
SN Liquid Gloss in Icing

Combining Warmer and Cooler tones is something that has pretty much made me shake in my proverbial boots from the time I've done my makeup.  Usually if I'm going with one I'll stick with either or, or one or the other with neutrals, or just neutrals.  Complementary colors?  Not in a million years did I ever think I'd have gotten away with a coraly orange lip and blue shadow.  The one thing I would have changed?  I forgot to use Stick 'Em for more of a foiled look.  Thanks again, Phyrra!

Have you been inspired to something new recently?

Glittery Mermaid Look and a new Browser.....

I had to change my browser from Explorer....but hey, I can post comments again!!!! SWEET!!!  I'll catch up soon.

First, I wanted to show you my glittery purple and teal mermaid look.  It was also my first attempt at a cut crease, though it didn't turn out as defined as I'd planned originally, but I still loved how the finished look came out!

Here we go!

Eyes:

Monistat powder gel primer
NYX Cottage Cheese Jumbo eye pencil on inner 1/2 of lid, inner corner, and smudged under eye
Silk Naturals clear liner on browbone
Silk Naturals Amethyst liner on outer 1/2 of lid
Silk Naturals Stick 'Em patted all over eye area including underneath
Aromaleigh Night Shade placed tightly in crease with a small brush
Silk Naturals Poly patted on lid
Meow Shipwrecked in crease
AL Calypso in crease
AL Air and Light on upper browbone
NYX Cottage cheese on lower lashline
Maybelline black liner upper and lower lashline
Silk Naturals Stick 'Em again
Morgana Berryful Glitter over lower lashline and smudged downward
Morgana Changling Glitter over upper lashline
Morgana Tropic Glitter over inner 1/2 of lid
AL Masquerade glitter over middle 1/3 of lid
Morgana Changling over outer 1/3 of lid and brows
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
Morgana Tropic Glitter patted onto lashes with fingers

FACE:

Monistat powder gel as primer
Silk Naturals oil control blur
My mix of silk naturals medium coverage foundation
Silk naturals oil control blur
Silk Naturals Lady blush

LIPS:

Silk Naturals Azalea cream
Silk Naturals Shrieking Violet Liquid Gloss

OK here's a few observations...

1.  Monistat is the BOMB for primer, both for my face and eyes!  HG status for sure!
2.  LOVE the way my lips turned out
3.  Though my eyes didn't turn out exactly like I expected them to, I loved them too!
4.  I'm going to have to buy more manic panic colors.  Though I missed some areas with the Atomic Turquoise so some places were more green, I have a second coat on now that should take care of it.  :D

Have you tried any fantasy type looks recently??

Foundation Comparison

I thought I'd do a foundation comparison for you. 

This came about because I'd been using my MAC Studio Select Plus Foundation for awhile, and loved the coverage and tone it gave me as well as the ease of using a pressed powder.  When I found out that I had to be gluten free, I discovered that this is not so I decided to try a few new things as well as break out some old favorites.  I'm still on the search for my hg, oil controlling all day, ease of use powder foundation.  I've come very close though.

Let's get started with Non-minerals.














L to R:  Nars Pressed foundation in Barcelona, Nars Sheer Matte foundation in Fiji, and Shiseido Mattifying Pressed foundation in 20. 

L to R:  Nars Barcelona and Shiseido 20.  The barcelona pressed powder foundation is a lot darker than the Fiji sheer matte, which is my perfect shade in the liquid.  I find that the barcelona works better in the pressed though.  I tried it over the fiji and ended up looking too dark that way, so I'm sure it would work better with Fiji pressed foundation over it.  I may get one, but at $45 each it's expensive and I have other things I like better.  Next, minerals.

Larenim pressed foundation in 2WM.  This bothered my skin.  I think it's some of the extracts used in it to press the minerals.  Also, the color is too pale.















L to R:  AL 2NW and 2YL.  I can use both, but 2YL is a better match.  As a matter of fact, I base all my foundation shades off of it now, trying to match it.

L to R:  Bare Minerals Matte foundation in Golden Fair and Golden Medium.  I have to mix these two, but they're a good match mixed. 

L to R:  Meow pamperred puss foundation in Frisky Sphynx and the same in Sleek Abyssinian.  I can wear sphynx, but the abyssinian line is a better match.  The sleek was sent to me accidentally.  I'm going to use it this winter to tweak my matches. 

L to R:  Meow Pamperred Puss in Naughty Abyssinian, the same in Frisky Abyssinian.  The mix of these two are the best match I have right now.

OK.  So here's the lowdown.  I don't use my Nars foundations, Shiseido, or Larenim right now.  I've been going back and forth between my Meow Naughty/Frisky Abyssinian mix and my Bare Minerals Golden mix.  As far as coverage, they're both good, and they both control oil about the same, though the BE is a bit better there.  The Meow is a bit better in blurring my pores.  They're about even right now with me as far as which are my favorites. 

In order, it would be:

1.  BE Matte mix, Meow Pamperred Abyssinian mix
2.  AL
3.  Nars Powder
4.  Nars Sheer Matte
5.  Shiseido, Larenim

None of them are perfect as far as coverage, oil control, blurring of pores, and all that.  I'm still on the lookout for my HG, but there are some good choices there.  I still prefer the feel of powder, but sometimes having a liquid to use for coverage is good too. 

Have you tried any new foundations recently?

Saturday Purples

This was a quick look I threw together today to play with some of my new stuff.  :D

Eyes:

TFSI
Indelible cream shadow in Nude Frost
The pink and purple colors from my Clinique trio on my browbone and lid
MAC Blacktrack to line
Meow Pirates in crease and dry over liner
Clinique High Impact Mascara

Face:

Fyrinnae Velvet Gel Silica Primer
Clinique Stay True Foundation in Stay Ivory
Clinique Perfectly Real 104
Aromaleigh Aura Perle for blush

Lips:

Too Faced Borderliner in Clear
MAC Venomous Villans Maleficent lipstick in Violetta

Tomorrow's look will probably be pink, as I'm volunteering my time at one of our stores for a cutting marathon for breast cancer research.  I'm not cutting probably....I'm just receptioning, but if they need help I'll chip in.  It's for 3 hours....I have to get up early like a regular work day.  LOL....

Almost a Poison Utopia look with AL

This was Thursday's look.  I used all AL for it, with a few exceptions.

Eyes:

TFSI
Indelible cream shadow in nude frost on browbone
indelible cream shadow in plumkin on lid
AL Poison Utopia on lid
AL White Riot on browbone
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack to line
AL Almost Midnight in crease and dry over liner
Benefit Bad Gal Mascara in Plum

Face:

AL Silk Primer
AL 2YL Glissade
AL Breathless Blush

Lips:

Jordana liner in Rockin Rose
AL Mulberry E/S mixed with Burts Bees Raspberry Gloss

The joys of purple!!! Good thing it's in at the moment!