Make-Up Monday: Evil Shades Cosmetics Lipstick, Hardcore Lips and a Shadow

This is another indie brand, it looked cute and I had to make an order when I saw a gold sparkly lipstick (yes I really like those a lot). And I couldn't just order one thing, how wastefu,l so I grabbed a few other things too. I put in the order the second week of Jan and got it the second week of Feb. There was a bit of a glitch where my order seems to have gotten lost in the interwebs so I emailed the owner and she a) responded within 24 hours and b) had that order out within a week like she promised so really I'm quite happy with all of that. Errors happen and she made sure to correct it.

This spy, uses a spy trading card to cover her spy-nformation.

It came in an envelope, which I down with since it keeps shipping down and means I don't need a tiger to open it.

All the products came in a satin bag (PINK! :D) and included a business card, a slip with what I ordered, two free samples and a lolipop. Y'all know my opinion of little touches, I love them. As you can see the packaging is all very clearly labelled and looks very professional with standardized look. Also pink. :D

Let's start with the Deviant Lipsticks. Can I say I love them? Because I freaking love them. And this isn't like a big fight for a best lipstick, this is such a different formula and I really like it. Just a warning about the scent, it is punch in the face candy scented though it mellows with time. Just don't use it while queazy the first few weeks you own it.

So here are the shades I got:

Schemata

The whole reason this order got placed. It isn't as dark as Morgana Cryptoria's 24k Pumpkin, it is fairly close to the Amphitrite Gel Lipstick's shade though but just a tad darker so it is quite nice. It takes many goes over the lips to achieve an opaque color, like you have to warm it up, but it doesn't feel caked on from that. It really makes it easy to get many different looks from one shades, from tint to opaque.

This was such an impulse buy. It is like Transformers: Animated Arcee pink and for $4.50 I'm down to buy a color I otherwise wouldn't (didn't think it would look nice with my skintone) if it makes me think of a cool character. It is very matte in real life and... And I kind of love it. Schemata is nice and servicable but Fearless is just so... so... Me. It is bright ass pink and so perfect. If it wasn't a matte color I wouldn't love it but the matte makes it really look nice. I can't explain it. It just looks amazing. It is now one of my top three lipsticks. Yay Arcee pink?

Another try for Nora. Another no-go. It is about one or two shades lighter than my lips and a very beige nude and holy balls the white shift is really there in person. The bottom pic is with flash to get that across. Could have sworn the listing said blue shift but yeah, def white. It is pretty if you look good in beige nudes but if you are like me and don't I'd say skip it. It streaks a tiny bit but with a little work can be smoothed out.

Price: $4.50 for a .07oz tube (which makes it about equal to Morgana stuff in $/oz)
Packaging: 4/5
Very swanky, but the black tube makes it hard to judge how much is left. The slimline balm tube is needed to support the product during application because of how hard it is.
Quality: 5/5
It feels nice and smells nice (I like the candy scent personally). It also wears nice though it does have to be touched up often.
Value: 5/5
For the product it is on target.
Overall: 4.67/5
It is really nice, the small full size is great for travel or trying it out (the sample is a third of the price, just drop the money on the full size if you're even a third sure you'll like it) and the really unique formula is a nice change of pace. It almost doesn't feel like you're wearing lipstick at all. It leaves your lips feeling kind of like you rubbed olive oil on them but otherwise bare. It is cool. I look forward to getting Jenaveve because it might be the perfect retro matte red. Also a good way to make sure they apply easy is to keep it in the back pocket of your jeans, it keeps it a better temp in winter.

Now on to the Hardcore Lips! This is a pretty standard gloss, needs frequent reapplication has a candy scent and moisturizes a bit. BUT THE COLOURS. Such lovely colors. And instead of the standard feel I have to concure with other bloggers in that is feels a little like Vaseline on the lips. Not a bad thing, just a thing. At the time there were only samples but I wanted to try the formula so I got them anyway.

I only got it because it made me think Decepticons. I really don't like the shade, it is exactly as described but it just doesn't work on me (lol nudes never do). So Arcee was a full size and spot on and Deception was a sample and a miss. I'm fine with that. If nudes work for you then this will be something you like probably.

I got this because the purple on the site and the name DOOM made me think Shockwave (yes another Transformers thing) and I love Shockwave. It looks really brown on me. It is an okay color but not one I'm in love with.

It also wears away weird. So not baaad, just not one I'm in love with. It happens. Still love the formula though.

I also bought a sample of Last Kiss and MEANT to take pics but I loved it so much I kept wearing it daily. And I ran out. Whoops. The pics on the site are spot on though and I've got a migi of it on it's way to me now (a few days after I order the full size comes back in stock, just my luck). Hilariously enough it is the closest to Nora I've gotten. One note though, while the XTREME blue shift is very apparent in the container it isn't as much on the lips. I wish it was a little more present but holy balls it is still really really pretty.

Price: $2 for a 5 dayish sample, $4.50 for 4oz and $6 for 5oz
Packaging: 5/5
The little snap pot container for the samples is really nice, very secure, no leakage even kicking around my purse.
Quality: 4/5
It feels nice and smells nice (I like the candy scent personally). It also wears nice though it does have to be touched up often.
Value: 4/5
With how much you have to touch it up you actually use a lot, so a giant 10oz tube would be great here. If there was a 10oz tube for $10 that would be so amazing.
Overall: 4.33/5
Applies evenly, feels clean and smooth and has quite a range of colors that can be made opaque or tinting. If they lasted a little longer on the lips they'd be perfect. Touching up every two hours and right after I eat sucks.

Now for the free samples. I got a sample of the just released Sugar Kisses Whipped Lip Butter in Sprinkles (white and holy sparkles, Batman).

Photos just don't show the bucketloads of sparklely glitteryness. It is also averagely moisturizing so basically if you want something glittery and good for your lips you've found it. They went up on the page the day after I placed my order (d'oh!) so I'm going to hold out and get the full size of sprinkles and maybe a few others in a few months for my birthday. They are just so fun.

Price: $6 for a 5gram jar
Packaging: 5/5
Same snap thing as everything else for the sample and the 5g jar for the full size looks like it would work well for this mousse which doesn't flop around at all.
Quality: 4/5
It feels nice and smells nice (I like the candy scent personally). It also wears nice though it does have to be touched up often. It'd get a 5 if it was super moisturizing but it is very servicable as is.
Value: 5/5
For the product it is on target.
Overall: 4.67/5

And now for the eyeshadow sample, I was sent Yellow Snowballs from the Humbuggary line. I wasn't too excited by a bright yellow shadow, how am I supposed to wear that? But I actually really like it.

The right is without base and the left is over a base. It has serious white shift. Serious. White shift. Which is what really works in its favor.

I thought I'd give it a whirl in a basic smokey kind of look just to give it a shot and... I actually like it a lot. Not nearly as crayon on the eye as I thought thanks to the white shift.

I'm serious about that shift guys! I tried it with black eyeshadow later but then it does look taxi-like, it works better with that lovely red/brown Harbringer I like so much. But aside from the shift, it is a very soft and silky shadow and applies much like every other shadow I've used which doesn't need tons of base. It is a dream to work with. I'm glad she included that sample as it is what spurred me to order eye shadows from her now. Hey, samples exist for a reason. I'm so willing to let someone convince me that something is awesome.

Price: $6 for a 5g jar and $9 for a 10g jar tube
Packaging: 4/5
The snap container worked for the sample and I'm guessing the jar will be like Morgana's. The sticker on top makes it hard to see the color though!
Quality: 5/5
It feels nice, is easy to work with and the colors are BAM! there but blend easy. Amazing.
Value: 5/5
For the product it is on target.
Overall: 4.67/5
I've already ordered three more shadows. I really like the formula and am hoping those other colors pan out. I like Yellow Snowballs itself too but I'm still trying to decide if yellow really suits me/I would wear it often enough to justify it taking up drawerspace. Maybe that'll be b-day order thing. Who knows what colors I'll be digging then!

Helpful Hints For Finding Off Brand

I’ve had a couple of people comment that I seem to find some really great offbrand stuff and while part of that is luck, part of that is also having spent a loooot of time getting to know the feel of where to shop to find it. So here are my biggest tips, in no particular order and some conjecture as to why they exist. This is all from my personal experience so no references to cite.

1) It is seasonal.

You’re going to find a lot more lolita style blouses (and possibly gothic/ega dresses) during the winter, everyone is trying to be classy and to the nines during the holidays so things like pintucks and ruffles and other shows of opulence are going to be in. January is a great time to go shopping since that all goes on clearance about then.

The best seasons for JSKs are undoubtably spring and summer. Spring is a little better since shorts seem a little more prominent than dresses in summer but you can still find cute things. Easter and graduations make knee length airy dresses popular during spring I think. You can also find cardigans that would do well with sweet style (and sometimes classic) as spring is normally pastels and light colors which go hand in hand with sweet style. Summer is better for primary color sweet stuff like reds and blues.

Fall is great for classical lolitas, the color palate is more mature and you start getting into furs and stuff being in. Gothic things can also be found, and not just around Halloween.

Winter is when the goths are going to have the best luck, black is always popular as are deep jewel tones. Those jewel tones are also good for classical lolitas too.

2) Know your stores.

Walmart

Walmart is almost always a waste of time, especially if brand size M fits you well. They just don’t sell clothes in that size. But also unless the current trends are towards lolita-ish things they just aren’t going to have anything. The handbag and jewelry departments can yield some good things though. I normally do a quick run through the jewelry and handbag department whenever I’m at a Walmart (which honestly isn’t all that often) since it only takes a minute or two.

Target

Target is good, they are like a slightly more mature Forever 21 if that makes any sense. Converse One Star which is sold at Target USED to be a go to for blouses and dresses but lately it really hasn’t been. The skirts on the dresses haven’t been near big enough to fit a petti the last two seasons. They also seem to be falling prey to vanity sizing as their 2/x-small has been bigger lately than what it used to be. Sadness. The Merona stuff, especially blouses and cardigans, can be very lolita as well, but they have always had the vanity sizing issue. Their size 2 is probably equivalent to a Baby or AatP JSK in sizing (aka too big for me) whereas the Converse size is off and on Victorian Maiden sized (aka my perfect size). They are also a good hit or miss for shoes. The past season or two hasn’t really spoken to me but before that I could normally find at least one pair a season that would work well for lolita. Shoes from them wear out kind of quickly though, the longest I’ve been able to nurse a pair of their shoes is about four years but with regular wear I normally only manage a year of use and daily wear can break them as quickly as 3 months. Their handbags, jewelry and other accessories are also a good bet and in winter they have cute real leather gloves, the S/M size fitting moderately small hands well. That’s a store I go to pretty much bi weekly and keep an eye out at. Since I wait for things to go on clearance I’ve missed a few really good things but I’m cheap.

I would have paid full price if I knew you existed in x-small!

And they never did have that olive green ruffle coat in an x-small in my store which made me mad. It would have been the perfect coat for my green lolita wardrobe.

Forever 21

Forever 21 is one of the best places to look for accessories. You’ll find funky and traditional things there and most of it is cheap. Currently they have some decent Alice bow headbands for $1.50 and in quite an array of colors. No true white, grey, green, pastel pink or lighter blue though. I think the only ones I didn’t get were the teal and red ones (why couldn’t the red be a more saturated hue?). They also are great for loli-ish jackets and coats. Blouses not so much since they are loathe to use cotton (unlike Target which loves cotton) and hem lengths tend to nix skirt options. They also are more of a BtssB sized store which makes me sad. But cute things can be found here too. The quality is pretty subpar so just try on and inspect everything you are thinking of buying to make sure it is decent. I wouldn’t suggest the shoes though. Rather uncomfortable and wear out quickly. You could def find things for Mori-Kei or Dolly-Kei as well.

Old Navy

They don't have things that are great too often and often times don't have VM sized things. And then you get things like that skirt up there which are great. Just don't ever pay full price there. The quality is terrible and they overcharge. Kinda like another Forever 21. But they have more basic staple type stuff as opposed to Forever 21's trendy trendness.

Kohl's

Kohl’s is a place to never buy something for sticker price at. It will go on sale or you can use a coupon from the weekly newspaper (or both)! Same sizing issues as everywhere else though the Lauren Conrad stuff is hit or miss on that front. This is a great store for blouses and accessories. And occasionally you’ll find super amazing things like that suit that looks kind of like VM’s Charlotte suit. It is a good store to blow an hour in. Shoes can be amazing too but only like 30% of the time. They last a little longer than the Target ones though.

Anthropology

Anthropology has lovely things and if you are VM sized then they do normally carry clothes that will fit. Just hope you don’t have another size 0 in your area since they only ever seem to get one of those for anything. They charge Bodyline to brand prices so be prepared for that. When I lived near one I would keep an eye on the clearance section, that helped with prices a bit. The sewing quality is most of the time nice and the materials are normally good but shoes are the same bad deal as brand shoes. Also they through in pockets more than most stores which is rad.

H&M

H&M is what you would get if you crossed Target and Forever 21. It has a lot of the grown up sensibilities of Target but with some of the crazy pieces of Forever 21 and goes about 50/50 on the quality. Some pieces are really great, I have a shirtdress (not lolita but the top would make a great loli blouse) which is a great grey sateen and sewn beautifully. I also have those four shirts, two of which are size 2 and two of which are size 4 (what kind of size variance crap is this?) and none of them breath even remotely well. But they are great cutsew/blouses for when I have nothing else to wear and were on sale for cheap. It’s a give and take. The accessories and handbags are pretty uninspiring here but they do tend to get nice knitwear in. Haven’t bought their shoes but they look like F21 style stuff.

Claire's/Icing

Claire’s you all know about, and probably their sister store Icing as well. I don’t even need to talk about it. Just remember that like once a month they do a 10 red mark items for $10 sale, normally on a Saturday. It is easy to get it cheap.

Charming Charlie's

Charming Charlie’s is amazing if you have one in your area! It is like Claire’s for 16-20 year olds. A bit pricey but you can find some really unique stuff here. Like my favorite little ram necklace. :3

Marshall's/Ross/Tuesday Morning

Marshall’s and Ross are going to be pushes if you are VM size as with most American mass retailers but sometimes you find a gem. It will just be rare so I’d say skip the clothing unless you have an hour to waste. Shoes and purses are quick to browse and you can find good things, especially for Classic or Gothic. Ross is the cheaper of the two though Marshall’s has a better selection of shoes. Also if you’re a toy collector then this is a good place to look for discontinued toys you either missed in clearance or which were a late wave which the mass retailers passed on. Also Tuesday Morning is like another Marshall's, it is where I got those pretty burgundy flats from the last picture.

Big Lots

Big Lots is like the skeezier version of Ross. No clothes or shoes to be found here but occasionally hair things and if you’re looking for make-up that was discontinued then here’s your best shot after ebay. They also get good craft things in if you like to make your own jewelry or deco or scrapbook. This is also a great place to shop for frilly looking food for meet ups.

Thrift Stores

Thrift Stores are going to vary by where you are. Where I currently live is terrible as I’m in podunk but Austin, TX is vaguely nearby and has amazing ones. There is one in Houston, TX where all the rich people seem to dump their stuff as you’ll find real fur and gorgeous vintage overcoats and stuff. The ones near me when I was in CA had some great stuff occasionally too. And I know at least one had a Bodyline shirt since I donated it aha. But just realize while the prices are good and you’ll occasionally find some great things you’ll be investing a lot of time. Get to know your local ones to find out if it is worth it bothering (like how I don’t bother at my local ones now since they stink).

Vintage/Resale/Antique Shops

Vintage/Resale/Antique stores will have lolita things. That’s just a given. But the price is going to normally be high. You probably won’t be able to do a whole outfit from one store either, blouses are hit and miss though jsks are easy to find. Shoes tend to be a little meh. Handbags and other accessories can be amazing but priced accordingly. They are like thrift stores too in that some are better than others. That is part of why I named what stores I got my things from in my wardrobe post, so you’ll know some good ones. Vintage Dreams in Covina, CA and whichever one is by the starbucks and the traffic circle in Orange, CA are great (and always compliment lolita outfits). Buffalo Exchange in Austin is hit or miss but can be amazing.

3) Get to know materials, get an eye for quality, and know what little things you can do to make things better.

If you go at it long enough then you’ll be able to spot shoddy seams from 20 paces and fabrics that won’t breath from one touch. You’re just wasting your money if you buy crap. It would be better to buy one nice brand or expensive offbrand blouse rather than three offbrand blouses you can’t stand wearing.

I don't trim the fabric off taken in cutsews in case I want to sell them later. It takes two minutes to take out those two lines of stitching and makes it easier to sell.

If you’re a VM sized person like me then it is worth your while to try things on that you know are  too big because sometimes it is a really easy fix. This is especially true of things made with cutsew material/jersey as a lot of the time just laying a shirt flat, pinning in about an inch or so and sewing a straight seam where those pins are will solve that sizing issue. But that is just something you have to deal with as a smaller sized person in a larger sized country. Consider it a challenge! A fun challenge!

4) Get to know your sale cycle

Maybe I’m just Cheapy McCheaperton but I try to not buy my offbrand unless it is on sale or on clearance. Part of it is that fast fashion quality means the lifespan of these garments (even when well cared for) is going to only be a few years or so but I also just don’t like spending that much money. So I’ve gotten to know when stores I frequent do their sales and how long I’ll probably have to wait for something to hit clearance. It was easier when I worked at Target admittedly but it isn’t too hard now. And if there is something I absolutely love I just ask if I love it enough to pay full price. That happens sometimes. I think the last time that happened was that green wool ruffle coat from Target I mentioned earlier. If they had gotten an x-small in I would have dropped the $65 they were asking for it.

5) Just keep an eye out whenever you’re shopping!

Kohl's, Claire's, Belk, Tuesday Morning and... Winchester Mystery House. What can I say, their cutsews are super cool.

You never know what you’ll find. That was how I found that pinkish striped shirt at Belk, I was just putzing through and saw it and fell in love. This is also very true of accessories. Sometimes you’ll just see something odd like a chunky men’s watch that really would look good with your Iron Gate. And I always have my best luck when not looking for lolita stuff. If I go out thinking I’d love to find something cute and lolita I never do but when I’m just strolling along, not a lolita thought in my brain that is when I find great things. The lolita gods just roll like that.

And lastly, have fun! If you’re grumpy while looking you won’t find anything or you’ll always remember the unhappiness when you wear it. Make it a fun hunt. Consider it a challenge and don’t lose hope (even if stores keep vanity sizing you out of things that fit)!



Loliable Alert! Accessories at Forever 21!

Today's finds were all a $1.50 and from Forever 21:

-Faux leather bow bracelet. I got two of the pink ones but there was also a brown.
-Resin ribbon ring. They had several other colors and another slightly larger style (with polka dots and which costs $4.50). I think the colors were red, cream and turquoise and the polkadot ones were cream/brown dots and navy with cream.
-Little mirror earrings. I got the gold with cream ribbons, there was also silver with black ribbons and these would perfectly match the mirror necklace they had awhile ago (why didn't I buy that?!).

The glove is not F21, I just needed something to prop the ring up.

Make-Up Monday: Morgana Cryptoria Glosses and Eyeshadows

Thought I'd lump these together since I only had two glosses in this order. You've heard me rave about customer service and all that before so the two sec version: great customer service, about a month to get and decent pricing for a hand crafted small business made product (I like supporting small business).

So, let's start with the glosses. I got Pimped Out Pumpkin and Fallen Leaves. Very pretty colors. I ordered the $5 pots since I'd heard they are easier to stir should the gloss seperate and I didn't know if I would like the formula. Not much of a gloss fan usually. But let me tell you I love these. The color is easily made opaque and isn't too hard to just use as a tint either. A tip for wearing the whole day, either put a lipstick beneath it or at like 6 hours in just take a quick swipe with a paper towel to get a bit of the dried gloss off before reapplying and you'll have no issues. It is also very easy to remove unlike dedicated longwear glosses but when applied right won't wear off your lips too much when eating and drinking and stuff.

Pimped Out Pumpkin did suffer the dreaded seperation but it is a pot and stirs easily back together. Have to do it every time though. Fallen Leaves doesn't have that problem so I'm wondering if it is the chai fragrance doing it (Fallen Leaves was unscented). The chai fragrance mellows with time to be quite pleasant btw.

And here it is worn. It is a lovely color though I'd like it a little darker. Sometimes I just put a dot of Fallen Leaves at the center and blend it out which darkens it ever so slightly to quite a nice color. The gloss wears well eventually drying so it is kind of like a lipstick which is neat.

Fallen Leaves is far more chocolatey than red and the shift is a bit more golden than green but I still really like it. It wears to a more reddish brown matte. It also feels like you're painting melted chocolate on your lips since it is a bit thicker than Pimped Out Pumpkin.

Price: $5 for a 3oz pot and $12 for a 10oz tube (if you KNOW you'll like a color just get the tube since it is $1.20 an oz vs $1.67 an oz and less shipping on repeated refills).
Packaging: 3/5 (pot)
No matter what gloss gets in on the lid and escapes. Too messy to keep in the purse.
Quality: 5/5
For how opaque and easy to use it is and how it isn't streaky it is wonderful. It also just feels luxe.
Value: 5/5
You may pay less for other glosses but if you want opaque and long wearing this is your winner.
Overall: 4.34/5
Neither collects clear goo under your lips, the colors are delightfully opaque and the formula is not sticky feeling though if your bangs hit your lips they will stick there like with any gloss.

Eyeshadows

These are loose mineral shadows, the full size is 1.5grams and man I wish there was a larger option. But then when I like a color I never want to run out.

And here are the swatches. I got Pyramid Scheme, Alexandria, Magic Plum and Harbringer. On the left is with no base and on the right is with base.
Pretty sure I already showed you Pyramid Scheme, Alexandria and Harbringer used in looks but lately I've been loving Magic Plum and Harbinger together.

I like that it brings out the green in my eyes. And it reminds me of the storm clouds in Lion King when Simba talks with Cloud!Dad.

Price: $5.50 for 1.5 grams in a little screw top jar.
Packaging: 4/5
It's a jar, Frank. It isn't really good or bad, though I feel like I'm going to fumble it and spray my counter with pretty sparkly color. I do like how it is all clear so it is easy to see the product, the label on the bottom if I need it.
Quality: 4/5
In order to get the really pretty color for Harbringer I have to have a thick layer of primer and then apply the shadow thick. It makes the lids a little heavy but otherwise the shadows are silky and nice.
Value: 3/5
I'm not saying it is Chanel pricing but it doesn't feel like a lot, especially with how you need to pack on some colors. But it isn't too horrendous really.
Overall: 3.67/5
If you see a color you really like then def go for it. You probably won't be disappointed. If you're waffling then it isn't the best bang for your buck but it isn't a bad buy either.

Loliable Alert! Old Navy Black Chiffon/Crepe Skirt

Consider this a new feature. I've gotten a couple compliments about my offbrand wardrobe so I thought I'd try to help out my loli sisters. Please note my aim is show things I actually buy/plan to buy/would buy so most things will likely be clearance or on sale.

Today's item:

Women's Pleated Chiffon Tie-Belt Skirts

On the website it is about $30 at the moment but at my local Old Navy it was only $12 and they had a grey/yellow/white stripe in place of the pink/navy stripe option. It easily wears as both a high waisted and a regular waist skirt and the black variant is sublime for gothic. The ribbon belt is grosgrain but takes two seconds to slip out for a diff ribbon or belt.

A few notes:
-Size down like the reviews said, it has shirring in the back so it has stretch to it and the xs is juuust small enough for me.
-It isn't really worth $30. If you see it for $20 or less then go with it. It is very light and airy and I'm betting is going to be a pain to clean (will let you know since I got the black and the yellow).
-If you get a smaller size you will have to put the petticoat between the top layer and the lining. It isn't hard, just something to note. Might not be a problem for larger size wearing lolis.

Make-Up Monday: Working Those Morgana Cryptoria Gel Lipsticks

In my initial first look post I mentioned how the gel lipsticks I got from Morgana Cryptoria were a bear to use and I'd play with them first before giving final verdict. This is my final verdict post. And the score did better for my experimentation. Please remember that these photograph darker on their own, in real life they are lighter and... luminous. They kind of have a metallic glow to them.

I forgot to take a pic of the packaging for this post but they are in foggy colored slim lip balm tubes. I normally prefer a lipstick tube but this product needs the support of the tube as it is so airy and as other people have said like mousse.

About the lipstick in general, it is insanely moisturizing, I'm pretty sure these started out as an attempt at a super moisturizing lipstick. A lot of times I'll get off work and go home and slap some on like a lip mask. They are also easy to remove which is a plus. There is this fine balance of staying power vs easy removal. I want a lipstick that won't transer onto my coffee cup too much but one that will come off in a few seconds at the end of the day with a paper towl. The staying power is decent as is the ease of removal but the product shifts on the lips wile wearing it which is where the trouble comes in.

There are ways to make these things work though.

First and foremost, after applying rub it into the lip with your finger. This is most apparent in person but you can kinda see it in photos.

I've tried smacking my lips, using a lip brush, using a q-tip, etc but a finger really works best.

So that gets the color even but there is still the issue of it leaving your lip and moving around. Put a gloss on top of it. I learned this because I was trying to make Amphitrite not so... carroty (light orange looks weird on me). I figured popping either Pimped Out Pumpkin or Fallen Leaves would darken it up nicely. It was only after wearing it for a day that I realized the gloss made a barrier that protected the gel. And it doesn't even have to be a Morgana gloss. My clear gloss is that Bonnebell frosting scented one, though a slightly more goopy gloss works better and is easier to apply.

This is over Persephone. I prefer Fallen Leaves of these two but that is probably because I feel Persephone and Pimped Out Pumpkin on their own are too light so together they obviously wouldn't be darker. Also, more of the green shift of Fallen Leaves seems to come out here.

And here is Amphitrite. I like all of these options which is weird since it is the same two lights don't make a dark thing for both the clear and the Pimped. But it works. Then again I am a sucker for orange lip products.

And last but certainly not least, 13th Hour. I like it best with the clear gloss, and only did Pimped because I was wondering if maybe a mircle or something would happen. I now really was a clear gloss with green shift though. You know why. *cough Riddler cough*.

So, here we have it.

Price: $4 for a tube tomorrow until she runs out is what I've heard.
Packaging: 3/5
The slimline tube is practical and I like being able to see how much product I have left but it doesn't feel as cool as a lipstick tube.
Quality: 3/5
It is moisturizing as all get out and the colors are very pretty. They just move around a bit too much for me though.
Value: 3/5
It is average in price for a not amazing product. So average score.
Overall: 3/5
If you treat it as a base layer, for say under a gloss, then it is an okay product. Other than that... I won't be ordering it again unless there's a new formula and several other people review it as better first.

Make-Up Monday: Morgana Cryptoria Package and First Looks!

I may have gone a bit nuts during the Christmas sale. But I do love her stuff and I really like supporting her business since she's got great customer service, good products and seems like a lovely person. So Obviously I ordered this on 12/25, the shop then closed for the holidays for a bit so I got my package on 1/26. Considering the holiday break, how popular her stuff is and how it is an indie brand this isn't that bad. My Evil Shades order is still working its way to me (ordered 1/10) so yeah.

RED Spy is in the base (blocking my shipping address on a box)!

This is the box it came in. I was kind of surprised I got a box actually. Also, it took about twenty minutes to open. You could probably give it to an angry tiger and not have to worry about the contents.

I will find a way to re-use these. Somehow! No not the make-up...

It came in two little baggies which is a cute touch. And I like cute touches. She also wrote a thank you note and answered some questions/notes on the invoice which was nice.

Or maybe she just wanted to shut me up...

And here is what I got. She was an absolute amazing person and sent me that tube of 24k Pumpkin after I asked (okay a couple times) if she happened to have a tube or two left over of the discontinued Pumpkin lipsticks. This kind of sweetness is amazing, it is over and above what I'm expecting from a business. Needless to say I've got nothing but glowing things to say about her customer service.
I was super excited as I ordered some new things to try out, I'm trying to be more adventurous with make-up (and expand my woefully tiny eye shadow stash). Before this I had only tried her lipsticks (which still rank in the top tiers of all lipsticks I've used ever). I've actually been putting off this review because I didn't want it to be less stellar and I am glad I did. When not using her lipsticks, which she is known for, let's just say there is a learning curve, at least for someone who isn't a total make-up maven. Let me say now my experience with all products is positive, there's just an asterix on that.

Eyeshadows

On the website they are such pretty colors and in their little jars they are pretty too. The jars feel a little tiny but I'm not sure why I was thinking the shadows would come in jars the size of the lip gloss ones. I was super excited I had gotten the box before putting my make-up on for the day so I figured why not use my new shadows. I didn't have too much time since I had to leave for work pretty quickly but I can do my eyes in like two minutes normally. This shadow is greatly different from the commercial shadows I've used, all of them including pressed and loose. I thought it would be like some other loose ones I have and applied primer and went about my business. I was kind of horrified by how they applied.

And I've got 24k Pumpkin on my lips.

I've got Pyramid Scheme to the top and tried to blend it to Harbringer at the bottom in a smokey eye (since that's my everyday look). But I was out of time so I had to roll with it. It isn't too horrible and I'd still love Harbringer even like that but it wasn't what I was expecting. Luckily when I got home I noticed the color I was hoping for happened to happen on top of my eye liner. So I got to thinking if maybe I didn't rub my primer in like a lotion (like what works best for every other make up) and purposely left my eyes a little gooey...

Why yes that does look kinda like the darkest shade from Chanel's Copper Temptation eye quad now that you mention it.

That this would happen. This is what I was expecting. And now I'm in love. So moral of this story is don't panic if something doesn't seem to be working right, just try out some different ways of using it. This is an important moral. You'll see why later. But for Harbringer I'm in love. I'll probably get a jar every time I order so hopefully I never run out. I decided to keep playing around and did an eye with Alexandria and Harbringer and then tried out the 11th Hour gel lipstick for a slightly Riddler-y look.

This is where that don't panic, try something else comes in. The gel lipsticks are... a bit of a pain. The colors are lovely and the formula is as moisturizing as most balms I own but it is hard to get a nice even coat on the lips. It is also kind of like a mousse and as others have said only twist up the product a tiny bit, you can't twist it back down. But there is a trick to getting them to play nice...er. Basically apply to the lips them rub it in with your finger. I guess treat it more like a lipstain kind of product? I used the bit left on my finger from that to rub on my cheeks as a blush which it is wonderful as. As for Alexandria, it is a GORGEOUS shade and just like the website says...

Normally I have to be at some emotional extreme for green eyes!

It really compliments green in the eyes. Again, with the know-how it works lovely. Lastly I tried one of the glosses.

If I ever need to do forest fairy make up I think I can.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this product, I've never done a highly pigmented regular gloss before, just the long wear ones. I like the formula other than my bangs stick to my lips occasionally (but that happens with all glosses). Now that I've done full day wears of the gloss I can tell you one application can keep your lips hydrated all day. Need to do some minor touch ups if you eat as most of us are wont to do but I liked it. I wasn't expecting this color when I ordered Fallen Leaves though. I guess I was expecting more green glow/shift and more of a red undertone than a brown one. It still is very pretty though. Also I got the chai scent on one of my glosses. Don't choose that one. It smells kind of like dirt. Not in a horrible way but it certainly is odd.

And that's it for now. I've been doing full day tests of everything so expect those posts in the coming weeks. Just thought I would give my thoughts on the general products themselves and let you guys lol at my having to figure out just how this new fangled make-up stuff works.

But in brief:

Customer Service/Shopping/Shipping: All wonderful. Seriously.

Eyeshadows: Lovely colors, decent amount for the price. Make sure your lids are sticky with base/primer when using these shadows. Also the eyeshadows appear much pinker on the website than they are, at least for me. Harbringer is a reddish/plumish brown and not a brownish eggplant. Pyramid Scheme is a dusty pink not a... pink pink (not the light pink in the Copper Temptation quad I was hoping for). Magic Plum is spot on though.

Gel Lipsticks: Lovely colors, decent amount for the price but a bit of a bear to use. Rub it into your lips with your finger after applying for best results. Is great for travelling when you need double duty products, 11th Hour makes a good blush and Persephone is actually the best under eye concealer I've ever used (figured that out after these pictures btw). Barring a really amazing looking color I probably won't buy any more of these though. I really do prefer the regular lipsticks. Also, they appear much darker on the website than in real life because pictures have a hard time getting just how luminous they are across. As I said, Persephone which is almost a midtone pink on the site works as an under eye concealer for this girl who uses the lightest shade of warm foundation available (L'Oreal w1 aka Porcelain).

Lipglosses: Pretty colors, super moisturizing and apply well. The clear base slightly collects under the bottom lip a little bit but that's a gloss for you. I'm glad she's doing smaller (so cheaper yeah?) tubes as that will make them portable (the pot is not something to throw in your purse). Like the gel lipsticks these appear darker on the site than they really are (I've browsed on my phone and computer and it is the same on both). I'll definately be buying more once she get's the smaller tubes in. The pot could easily last half a year of regular use, the current tube could probably last years.