Sigma Brushes: Mr. Bunny Essential Kit

First Impression Unboxing Review Only!

Warning--Pic Heavy

This will be an initial review or an unboxing review only. This means, it will just be pictures of the products. I have not yet used the products so I cannot comment on the quality or performance of the product. However, I will do an update of this post after I have given this set of brushes a week or two of use!

First off, I got Mr. Bunny set for my birthday. The shipping was 4 business days. Relatively quick. The shipping cost $14 dollars. Not cheap. AND, they messed up my order. I also ordered the F80 flat kabuki brush as well. It was no where to be found. I have emailed their customer service (the same day I received the order). I will update you guys once I update the brush post regarding the F80.

The brushes all came individually wrapped (I didn't take a picture of that because there was a glare) and it had a very strong plastic smell. I'm sure airing it out a bit would take care of that.

I also noticed how heavy the brushes were. I like that. A LOT. I enjoy holding a brush with a little weight to it. Granted it might not make it very 'travel friendly' if every ounce counts, but it definitely beats all the other brushes I have in terms of weight and size.

Let's move on to the pictures:

The box that it came in

The infamous holder that opens up and doubles as a brush container/holder

Here's what the holder/container looks like (this is one of them and one holds all of the brushes fine)

The Mr. Bunny Essential Kit comes with 12 brushes (top to bottom):

F30, F50, F40, F60, E40, E60, E55, E70, E65, E05, E30, E70 and the brush holder

 The Break Down of the Brushes w/descriptions taken from Sigma website

F30 - Large Powder: Even powder application. Uniform blending of powder products onto the face and body (I will be using this to dust powder to set my face).

F40 - Large Angled Contour: Subtle cheek application. Use the angle to softly contour the cheekbone. Can also be used to apply blush (I will be using this for blush).

F50 - Duo Fibre: Creates an airbrush effect onto the skin. Can be used with powder, liquid or cream products (I will be using this for cream blush/contour).

F60 - Foundation: Smooth foundation application. Apply liquid or cream products such as foundation and primer (I'm not a huge fan of this type of brush, but I would use it for foundation as a back up for my F80).

E60 - Large Shader: Uniformly cover the whole lid with product. Apply cream shadow base or cream shadow for quick and even coverage (I will use this to place color all over the lid as a base).

E40 - Tapered Blending: Soft blended crease. Using just the tips to apply color, sweep back and forth through the crease for a diffused and blended finish (I will be using this for transitioning colors).

E70 - Medium Angled Shading: Soft application of color. Use for brow highlighting or to blend the crease (I will be using this to do exactly what it says...highlighting my brows and creating creases).

E55 - Eye Shading: Even application of color. Place color across the whole lid for an even and strong application of product (I will be using this for pigments and placing defined colors).

F70 - Concealer: Conceal small areas. Conceal the hardest to reach areas such as around the nose and eyes (I'll be using this for my under eye concealing).

E30 - Pencil: Soften and smoke out lines. Soften pencil liners along the top and bottom lash lines, add shadow to line the eyes, or use to highlight inner corner of eyes (I will be using this to line my eyes).

E65 - Small Angle: Create precise lining. Moves fluidly and easily across the upper and lower lash lines. Use with gel, cream or powder liners (I will be using this for my brows).

E05 - Eye Liner: Create smooth and even lines. Use with gel or liquid liners (I will be using this for eyeliner).

You can find this product at Sigma Beauty for $120

Tarte 2013 Holliday Blush Palette: Off The Cuff

Amazing, beautiful, elegant are the 3 words that I will use to describe this gift set. Let me show you what I mean:

It comes nicely package. The perfect size and shape for wrapping (if you are gifting it). This is important. I hate wrapping oddly shaped presents. Obviously, I'm greedy and this is for myself...so I don't care about shape particularly in this instance.

The palette itself comes wrapped with the cuff bracelet around it. I'm not a fan of thick (faux) leather bracelets, so I will be giving that way, but it does add a festive touch. I will say, I would have MUCH rather paid less for the palette if it DIDN'T come with a bracelet than if it did.

Now, the REAL DEAL...The blushes itself...

(L to R) Crave, Dazzled, Darling, Dollface and the bronzer Park Ave Princess

Listen up guys...Dazzled is the ONLY one in this set that has a slight hint of shimmer. The rest are all matte. So if you are a fan of matte blushes/bronzer. This is your calling!

Close up

The colors are great for leading up to Fall

Swatched in artificial light on NC 25 skintone

You can find this product at Sephora for $42

I give this product a 9.5/10

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils

Following my previous review NYX review, I am doing a NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil review. I have a total of 12 Jumbo Eye Pencils and fair to say, that's a lot of colors to experiment with! If you don't know what Jumbo Eye Pencils are, these are creamy eye pencils that you can use (and sharpen) as eyeshadow sticks and blend out on your eyes. They are both an eyeliner and an eyeshadow.

Let's get started:

(L to R): Milk, Cottage Cheese, Strawberry Milk, Cashmere, Yogurt, Pure Gold, Iced Mocha, French Fries, Rust, Dark Brown, Slate, Black Bean)

I've laid them out in the order of lightest to darkest. Let me point out a few things:

1. The caps: They are terrible. If you cap them too tight, they crack. If you don't cap them carefully, you might smudge the pencil. ARG. Let's hope NYX can find a better solution!

2. Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk: This is a cult favorite. It can be used as a base, it's a great white matte cream that you can use to cancel out all color on your lid and you can use it to lay your bright shadows on (or any shadows).

3. Milk, Dark Brown and Black Bean are the 3 matte colors that I have. The rest all have a hint of shimmer in them.

4. The lighter colors have less of a color pay-off than the darker colors.

5. Oily lids beware! Prime your lids (and wear powder shadows on top, if necessary) to prevent creasing.

Swatched on NC 25 skin:

NYX products can be found at NYX Cosmetics Ulta, Cherry Culture, Target

Birchbox: September 2013

Here's what I got in my September Birchbox:

Serge Normant Meta Luxe Hair Spray

Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Monaco

Borracha Wine Wipes

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive Strength

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Fox Hunt

I wasn't too pleased with this month's stuff and here's why:

I don't tend to use hair spray on my hair. So that knocks down one major product. Wine wipes...though a nifty product design in itself; but I don't drink wine. This also wasn't the first time I've gotten a similarly colored nail polish/lip gloss and I would have preferred a wider variety in color. Lastly, the Apple Peel, I haven't tried that, so we'll see about that product!

UD Vice 2: Part 2

Swatches and FOTD:

 First Row: Smokeout, Lovesick, Shellshock, Coax, X-rated

I am LOVING Shellshock. It is the most gorgeous shadow I've touched. It looks almost wet and it has the most beautiful color on my NC 25 skintone. Smokeout, the matte black is of course a great color to have in general!

 Second Row: Prank, Madness, Strike, Stash, Poison

Stash is a color that stands out for me in this row. It's a great shimmery olive color. Madness is also a gorgeous, vibrant blue.

 Third Row: Radar, Damaged, Voodoo, Betrayal, Derailed

Radar is wonderful. It's a great coppery/gold color in this collection. Voodoo is gorgeous violet, perfect for my kind of deep smokey purple (for fall). Derailed is great too in a collection. I'm not loving Betrayal though, especially not next to such a vibrant color like Voodoo. It's missing a punch or two.

Fourth Row: Dope, Toxic, Habit, Ambush, Rewind

This last row is your basics. Dope is great for a brow highlight. Toxic is a great rose gold color. Habit is a nice cream base to set your lids. Rewind, well, you can see below, I can use rewind to fill my brows! 

 Here's my FOTD (photo of the day)

The first picture is the before of course...product list below:

I achieved this eye look using the Vice 2 palette:

I primed my eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion
I then filled my brows using Rewind eyeshadow
I used Habit as a base all over my lids
Then dusted Shellshock on the inner 1/3 of the lid
I then used Voodoo on the outer 2/3 of my lids and blended out
I then took Poison with a flat blush and use just a little bit in the outer corner (outer v) and blended out
Finally, I used Smokeout with a liner brush and softly lined my top and bottom lash line
I also went over my bottom lash line with the Voodoo color as well
To finish off. I popped on some false lashes!

So what do I think of this? It's a great palette. Is it worth the $59? I don't know....I have a LOT of palettes. What makes this palette so much better than Naked, Naked 2, Lorac Pro? Why is it more expensive? I think it could use a bit more mattes. I do love that it gives much more color options (especially compared to Naked, Naked 2). Will it be a MUST HAVE like the first Vice? Probably...So yes, grab it up if you are a fan of Urban Decay shadows. These are HIGHLY pigmented and the colors are very versatile. If you ever complained that the Naked and Naked 2 just don't offer enough color options, now it's your chance to grab something different!

You can find this product at:

Urban Decay and Sephora for $59

I give this product a 8.5/10

Palette Wars: Lorac Pro -vs- Naked 2

Most of you have heard of the Naked palettes. More specifically, there are 3 Naked palettes: Naked, Naked 2 and Naked Basics. In my humble opinion, there is absolutely no need to own all 3 of the Naked palettes (unless you have money to throw around). Many have said that the first Naked (1, or the original) palette is better suited for those that are more neutral or cool toned and the Naked 2 is more for those that are warm toned and the Naked Basics palette is an all matte neutral small, convenient palette that's easy to carry.

I own the Naked 2 and the Naked Basics palettes. I also own the Lorac Pro palette. 

If you are thinking of only owning (1) ONE universal palette, I'll share with you my comparison of the Naked 2 -vs- the Lorac Pro below and hopefully it will help you decide which is a better choice.

Urban Decay NAKED 2 ($50):

PROS: This is great palette with 12 shades of warms and neutrals that's mixed with shimmers and mattes. The first shade, Foxy is the perfect brow highlight shade and the last shade Blackout is the perfect black to seal your liner with. It's versatile and multifunctional. The case is durable and sturdy, made of a metal tin (beats the cardboard stuff anyday). It comes with a dual ended brush and it also comes with a mini lipgloss. Let's be real, no one is getting the Naked 2 for the gloss or the brush though. It also comes with a HUGE mirror, which is great for travel/on the go. The textures of the shadows are buttery soft and glides on smoothly. 

CONS: To maximize the use of the colors, especially the lighter colors, I would definitely suggest using a primer or a base. The lighter colors does not show up as well without it. I do experience slight fallout with the shadows, this also might have to do with the fact that the shadows are so buttery soft (which is a good thing). I just suggest that you do your eye makeup first. Color variety is lacking for the cost. These are just your basic neutrals and warms. You will not be able to create any colors that are fun and vibrant with the Naked 2.

Lorac Pro ($42)

PROS: This is a great palette with 8 mattes and 8 shimmers (which totals 16 shadows, compared to Naked 2's 12). The price is cheaper than Naked 2 as well. I love the fact that you so many mattes. Matte shadows are hard to find, has anyone noticed that? Also, the color spectrum of the Lorac Pro is amazing. You have your lights and you have your darks. The number/variety of looks you can pull off with the Lorac Pro is probably higher than with the Naked 2. The colors were easier to blend compared to the Naked 2 and the payoff was also better.

CONS: The packaging can be a lot better. I feel as though if I dropped my palette, it will break and shatter into a million pieces. Other than that, really that's the only con I can think of. 

So the winner of the Palette War? LORAC PRO!

If you are in the market for one palette, one palette to rule them all...Lorac Pro is your best bet! Just try not to drop it.

You can find this product at:

Sephora: Naked 2 for $50 or Lorac Pro for $42

I give Naked 2 a 8/10 and Lorac Pro a 8.5/10

YVES SAINT LAURENT

YVES SAINT LAURENT: 

Just saying it makes me feel all fancy! Today's post will be about YSL lipsticks. More specifically, their Rouge Volupte lipsticks and their Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balms.

Let's get the obvious out of the way..these cost a pretty little penny. 3400 ($34) pennies for the lipsticks and 3200 ($32) pennies for the balms to be exact. 

I own three (3). I sold blood for them. I might have to sell plasma for the Fall collection. We'll see. 

Here's what I have:

(L) Lipstick in #1 Nude Beige, (M) Balm in #9 Cool Guava, (R) Balm in #4 Grenade Suave

 (L) Lipstick in #1 Nude Beige, (M) Balm in #9 Cool Guava, (R) Balm in #4 Grenade Suave

 Swatched (L) Lipstick in #1 Nude Beige, (M) Balm in #9 Cool Guava, (R) Balm in #4 Grenade Suave

So what do I think of these? I'm glad you asked!

1. I think they smell amazing! I've never smelled such classy lipsticks before. YSL must inject perfume into their lipsticks! Keep in mind, this can also be a HUGE turn off for some folks too. This is also why I put this as my number one. It has a mild (but good, to me) fragrance.
2. All 3 goes on smoothly and glides on like butter.
3. The lipstick (I only have #1 in Nude Beige) is amazing in color, very opaque, which is great...especially if I'm paying $34 for a lipstick, I don't want to be reapplying over and over again!
4. The balms, #9 was really light and the color pay-off was not that great. I feel like I paid a little too much for not a lot of color. However, #4 was uh-may-zing! It is the perfect sheer glossy red!
5. Packaging...I mean, really? How gorgeous are they? I'm not saying go out and buy a $34 lipstick just for the smell and the packaging, but man....

You can find this product at:

Sephora for $32 (balm) and $34 (lipstick)

I give this product a 9/10

Mac Blushes 101

This post will be about Mac blushes. It will only be about the powder blushes. So no cremes, no mineralized, no pro longwear, and no limited editions blushes.

Let's get started. I am breaking the blushes up into 4 sections:

1. Warms/Peaches/Shimmers
2. Pinks
3. Bolds/Pro (you don't need a Pro card to buy Pro items, you can order online or from a Pro store)
4. Others/Contours/Highlights

WARMS/PEACHES/SHIMMERS

All colors are great alone by themselves, descriptions are taken from Mac Cosmetics directly 

 1.  Sunbasque: Peach with pearl (sheertone shimmer)

 2. Ambering Rose: Muted rose (sheertone shimmer)
 3. Margin: Peach with golden shimmer (frost)
 4. Melba: Soft coral peach (matte)
 5. Peaches: Pure peach (sheertone)
 6. Pinch Me: Medium dirty rose coral (sheertone)

PINKS

These colors are great alone as well, but I like to layer colors with these so that they show up more

 1. Well Dressed: Immaculate pink (satin)
 2. Pink Swoon: Clearly pink (sheertone)
 3. Fleur Power: Soft bright pinkish-coral (satin)

BOLDS/PRO

These colors on my NC25 skintone are a bit bold, I like to blend them out with another, less harsh color

 1. Devil (Pro): Bright coral orange (satin)
 2. Apple Red (Pro): Fire engine red (satin)
 3. Rhubarb (Pro): Bright magenta (satin)
 4. Dollymix: Pure candy pink (sheertone shimmer)
 5. Salsarose (Pro): Lightly iridescent coral (satin)
 6. Azalea (Pro): Bright iridescent blue pink (frost)

 OTHERS/CONTOURS/HIGHLIGHTS

For these particular ones, here's how I use them:

 1. Shadowy: Deep brown matte sculpting powder--I use this to contour
 2. Lightsweep: Warm beige with fine pearl shaping powder--I use this to powder
 3. Emphasize: Off white with fine pear shaping powder--I use this to set my under eye
 4. Trace Gold: Gold with shimmer (sheertone shimmer)--I use this as a summer highlight
 5. Cantaloupe: Rich warm cantaloupe (satin)--I use this as a base for my bold blushes sometimes
 6. Blushbaby: Beige-pink (sheertone)--I use this alone as a very subtle blush

I hope this has been helpful to you if you are searching for a Mac blush. Remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is just the regular powder blushes. You can buy all of the blushes mentioned on Mac's website. Keep in mind that you have the option of buying them individually in the refill pan's for $17 each here or you can buy them by itself for $21 each normally here.

Lastly, the sculpting and shaping powders are not considered blushes, they are $16.50 each and are Pro items only. Pro items can only be bought via refills only.