Corvus Cosmetics Thing 1 and Thing 2 Swatches

Welcome back!  I have another short swatch post for you today.  The owner of Corvus Cosmetics, Noel, recently celebrated her birthday in December (yes, I consider that recent).  She created two shadows dedicated to herself and her twin brother.  If I weren't already an avid Corvus collector, I would've still bought these because they're the type of colors I like (deeper shades).  

Pictures taken under LED bulb and swatched over ELF Glitter Primer (top/left half) and ELF Essential Primer (bottom/right half)

Thing 1

Thing 1:  pretty blackened green with gold sparkles

Thing 2

Thing 2:  dark purple with red sparkles

Thing 1 and Thing 2

As you can see, both shades are great additions to any collection.  I can see myself definitely using these to deepen a look without wanting to go full on black in the outer corner.  Thanks for creating these pretty shades, Noel!

- Jolie ♥

Geek Chic Cosmetics Krampus Swatch

Hey everyone, I have a very short swatch post for you today!  Geek Chic Cosmetics recently came out with their CotM - Krampus.  Since I already bought a few things from Black Friday, there weren't many I wanted this time around.  I did buy some of their new lip balms, but decided not to show them since they're clear.

Pictures taken under LED bulb and swatched over ELF Glitter Primer (top/left half) and ELF Essential Primer (bottom/right half)

Krampus

Krampus:  absolutely beautiful black base with tons of teal and pink sparkles.  I have so many shades that have black bases with different colored sparkles on top, but this one is really gorgeous.  I felt the sparkles still stuck onto my skin over regular primer.  I believe this is one of the rare black base colors that won't blend away to a muddy black shade in the outer corner like most do.  I think I may even showcase this on the lid if I'm feeling adventurous at work one day.  We shall see!

- Jolie ♥

Innocent + Twisted Alchemy January 2016 Subscription Swatches

Today I have swatches of Innocent + Twisted Alchemy's January 2016 subscription.  It's inspired by Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass.  This post was initially scheduled for much later, as I normally have work today, but by some miracle, our boss decided to cancel due to Storm Jonas!  NYC happened to get around three feet of snow, so I'm really really glad we don't have to go out.  This month's subscription included three eyeshadows by I+TA along with some extremely beautiful label art.  We also got a bunch of samples from other companies!

Pictures taken under LED bulb and swatched over ELF Glitter Primer (top/left half) and ELF Essential Primer (bottom/right half)

Out of Time

Out of Time:   pale yellow with pink sparkles

Endless Grin

Endless Grin:  magenta with blue sparkles

DayDreamer

DayDreamer:  gray base with pink and gold shimmers

Out of Time, Endless Grin, DayDreamer

Notoriously Morbid January 2016 Vanishing Cabinet - Sicker, Sad World, CotM, and Liquid Liner Swatches

Welcome to the first Notoriously Morbid Vanishing Cabinet of 2016!  The VC is inspired by 90s cartoon, Daria.  I recently started watching it because it's been on my to-watch list for awhile.  I've always seen screen shots of her snarking and being overall cynical and loved it.  I'm on the second season now and I think it's far enough to understand the references.  Included in this post are swatches of December's CotM and the new liquid liner I've been testing.  The CotM and liner were NOT included in the Vanishing Cabinet.  The CotM was a separate order I had made and NM's owners had thrown in the liquid liner for me to test.  I've included both product swatches in this post to save space.

Pictures taken under LED bulb and swatched over ELF Glitter Primer (top/left half) and ELF Essential Primer (bottom/right half)

Give the Devil His Due

Give the Devil His Due:  copper with pink and gold sparkles.  Since this is a more glitter bomb shadow, I recommend using a sticky base underneath.  This was the Color of the Month for December 2015.

Blue Liquid Liner

Blue Liquid Liner:  opaque electric blue liner.  The quality of this liner is out of this world.  It's smudge, transfer, and water proof.  I've worn it out once and it lasted 13+ hours.  When I was swatching this on my arm along with the other shadows, I went to remove it with soap and water after pictures were taken.  All the shadows washed off and the liner did not budge at all.  I rubbed and rubbed and it wouldn't move.  I ended up removing it with a makeup remover wipe, which is what I used when I tested it on my eyes and it removed easily.  I'm really hoping these are released sometime soon because they really are outstanding.

Geek Chic Cosmetics Timey Wimey Collection Swatches

I picked up Geek Chic Cosmetics' Doctor Who inspired Timey Wimey collection during Black Friday.  I separated this from the other Black Friday haul post because the Timey Wimey collection is rather special to me.  It's a pretty old collection and part of my first ever order (and indie order in general) from Geek Chic.  I fell in love with the shade Bad Wolf and couldn't stop recommending it back then.  The tin of six shadows was on sale for about $20 during the sale so I couldn't resist picking it up.  I'm also a Whovian, so I enjoy the TARDIS on the tin.

Back of tin

Pictures taken under LED bulb and swatched over ELF Glitter Primer (top/left half) and ELF Essential Primer (bottom/right half)

Sexy in Suspenders

Sexy in Suspenders:  pale pink with blue sparkles.  I believe this was inspired by Captain Jack Harkness, one of my favorite characters from the DW universe.  He's a very handsome man and I got to see him in person at New York Comic Con a few years ago.

Don't Blink

Don't Blink:  sparkly silver.  This was inspired by the creepy Weeping Angels.  They're definitely one of the scariest villains in the series (especially the Statue of Liberty one).

Bad Wolf

Bad Wolf:  lavender with gold sparkles and pink shimmers.  Inspired by Rose Tyler and the one that started it all!  I'm not a fan of purples, but for some reason, this shade really drew me in.  

Exterminate!

Exterminate!:  copper with pink sparkles.  Inspired by the Daleks; the series still hasn't managed to explain why metal cans holding egg beaters and toilet plungers are the strongest warriors in the universe.

Bigger on the Inside

Bigger on the Inside:  cerulean with gold sheen and gold sparkles.  It wouldn't be a Doctor Who collection without a TARDIS inspired color, would it?

We are Coming

We are Coming:  bronze with blue sparkles and red shimmers.  Inspired by the last season of Torchwood (DW spin off).  This is beautiful, but so depressing because of what happens.  It's definitely one of the colors I bought as a sample awhile back and always stood out for me, so I'm super glad to have a full size.

Sexy in Suspenders, Don't Blink, Bad Wolf, Exterminate!, Bigger on the Inside, We are Coming

Overall, I think it's a very wonderful collection - an oldie but a goodie.  I won't be able to create a full eye look using these shadows, but they're all pretty great for lid shades.  I love showing off special shadows on my lid with just a darker shadow in the outer corner to deepen the look.  It also makes me pretty nostalgic for Christopher Eccleston era DW and wish Jack Harkness were back.  (I didn't care much for Rose, I'm more of a River girl.)  If you're a fellow Whovian, or see any shades you like, I definitely recommend picking them up.

- Jolie ♥

Shiro Cosmetics Black Friday 2015 Swatches

Okay, I know I'm supposed to be catching up on posts and this one says "Black Friday", but I'm not as late as it seems!  I made a Shiro order during their Black Friday sale and picked up almost all the discontinuing Minecraft shades as well as several other newly released goodies.  I picked up the CotM (Senpai Noticed Me!), the new trio based on tree puns, and two Femme Fatale shades.  There was also a GWP for retail employees during the holiday season again.

Before I received my order, Shiro came out with their new CotM called "Sugar Plum Harry", so I emailed and asked if it could be added on.  My order shipped the next day and the owner, Caitlin, emailed me back saying it wasn't added on, but since I emailed before shipping, she would ship it to me for free :)  After I received my package, I noticed some leaky jars due to sifter stickers not applied correctly and a missing shadows as well.  I emailed Caitlin yet again and she apologized and shipped out the missing shadow and some extra labels for me :)  She's an absolute delight to communicate with and always responded promptly even though it was the holiday weekend.

Pictures taken under LED bulb and swatched over ELF Glitter Primer (top/left half) and ELF Essential Primer (bottom/right half)

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.:  mustard with gold shimmers

The Red Gallows

The Red Gallows:  matte burgundy

Gift of Toadstool

Gift of Toadstool:  beautiful dark brown base with purple sparkles and green shimmers

AFK Cosmetics Mutants Lip Balms Swatches and Review

AFK Cosmetics recently released a collection of tinted lip balms inspired by X Men.  They did close shop a few weeks ago due to the owner's health problems, but are looking to reopen when she gets better.  I purchased the full set during Black Friday along with a custom lip balm and was supposed to get the adorable Christmasushi duo (lip gloss and eyeshadow) GWP with it.  Unfortunately, when my package arrived, it was missing the duo.  I contacted the owner, Dena, about it and she apologized and was looking to send it out as soon as her gloss tubes came in the mail.

Fortunately for me, she also included a bunch of homemade cookies she baked for the holidays!  It was so generous and awesome that I didn't know if she was serious or not in sending some over haha.  Let me tell you, those cookies were DELICIOUS.  Somehow, my packaged ended up in USPS limbo for an additional week before arriving at my place and the cookies were still chewy and amazing.  So kudos to your baking skills, Dena, and remember there's always a willing stomach here in NYC for any extra baked goods ;)

Awesome snowman themed notes as always!

Pictures taken under LED bulb 

My Own Best Friend

My Own Best Friend:  pale bubblegum pink with blue shimmers

I Am Fire and Life

I Am Fire and Life:  red orange with orange shimmers