Innocent + Twisted Alchemy February 2016 Subscription Swatches

I have a very exciting swatch post today!  This month's February subscription box from Innocent + Twisted Alchemy was inspired by The Phantom of the Opera.  Phantom is my favorite musical so far and I love all the songs in it.  I was lucky enough to be able to watch it last year and haven't gotten it out of my mind ever since!  This month's box included two eyeshadows, one highlighter, and one Lippie Slick, along with several guest indies.  Coincidentally, I had the original cast recording of Phantom playing as I was swatching and taking pictures, so it really put me in the mood!  The label art is created by StrawberryMilkMade and features the Phantom's mask as well as a rose.

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

Paper Faces on Parade

Paper Faces on Parade:  orange gold with gold sparkles

Sing, Sing for Me!

Sing, Sing for Me!:  plum base with green duochrome

Prima Donna

Prima Donna:  ivory highlighter with pink and gold sheen

One Love, One Lifetime

One Love, One Lifetime:  metallic red with red and gold shimmers.  This is a very thin and liquidy formula but it went on completely opaque and was very comfortable to wear.

Judgement

Judgement:  pale yellow with gold and red shimmers.  This is a sample from Corvus Cosmetics' recent Major Arcana collection.  I will be swatching that entire collection soon.

Maiden

Maiden:  lavender with gold sparkles.  This is a sample from Esoteric Aesthetic created exclusively for this sub.

Red Death

Red Death:  beautiful opaque red orange.  This is a sample from Howl Cosmetics created exclusively for this sub.  I fell in love with the color immediately and had to compare it with my other indie reds.  Thankfully, I had nothing too similar and emailed the owner about purchasing a full size.

Paper Faces on Parade, Sing Sing for Me!, Prima Donna, One Love One Lifetime, Judgement, Maiden, Red Death

I'm extremely happy with this month's box because of both the theme and products included.  Sing, Sing for Me! is a beautiful duochrome and I'm in love with both lip colors.  I'm a huge sucker for reds and these were no exception.  I sure hope Howl has some full sizes left of Red Death and I'm considering buying a full size of One Love, One Lifetime as well.

- Jolie ♥

Notoriously Morbid February 2016 CCCOTM Dragon Empress Swatches!

I have a very short swatch post for you today, but it's a rather special one!  In the beginning of the year, Notoriously Morbid introduced their new CCCOTM program.  It stands of Customer Created Color of the Month.  Customers were able to send in a shadow description for a custom color and NM would pick a random winner and create that color.  By sheer luck, I happened to be the first one chosen!

My color description and inspiration came from the Pokemon Rayquaza.  It's a dragon whose job is to protect the Earth as well as quelling the battles between members of his trio.  It's watched over and worshipped by the Draconid Tribe, including Zinnia, which is the basis of the shadow name.  The color I asked for was a forest green with red and gold sparkles.  I got to create the label art as well!  I chose the symbol on Rayquaza's forehead filled in with dragon scales and a spacey galaxy background.  Laura captured it perfectly!  

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

The resulting product is super reflective and sparkly, so it was hard to get a good picture of the base color.  There are a lot more sparkles than I initially thought it would be, so I think a sticky base would really be needed if you want the sparkles to show.  With that said, I can't wait to use this in an eye look!  This color will be available until March 1st, so if you like it, pick it up :)

- Jolie ♥

Notoriously Morbid State of Fear Vol. 5 and sTORIes Tribute Trio Swatches

Today, I have swatches of one of my favorite Notoriously Morbid collections, State of Fear, as well as their most recent Tribute Trio.  The Tribute Trio this time is inspired by Tori Amos and includes two eyeshadows and one solid perfume in a tin.  

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

Dover Demon

Dover Demon:  pale blue with gold duochrome

Iceman

Iceman:  sky blue with blue shimmers

Dogman

Dogman:  tan with blue, red shimmers and silver sparkles

Momo

Momo:  absolutely gorgeous jewel toned green with rose copper duochrome.  I wasn't able to capture the copper duochrome with my camera, but if you go to Notoriously Morbid's Instagram account, they reposted a video swatch taken by another customer.  It captures the shift better than I ever could and I really recommend checking it out!

Mudman

Mudman:  blue base with copper duochrome

Dover Demon, Iceman, Dogman, Momo, Mudman

Power of Orange Knickers

Power of Orange Knickers:  medium coral with gold shimmers

Raisin Girl

Raisin Girl:  purple with red shimmers

Snow Cherries From France

Snow Cherries from France:  "base of amber, clementine, and a touch of patchouli.  Middle notes of lemon and berbie rich florals.  Topped off with a clean and light blend of violets, raspberries, and jasmine with a tint of peppermint and chocolate.  This fragrance is dark and mysterious with a clean bite and no promises of snow cherries."  To my untrained nose, it smells like berries and laundry detergent.

Power of Orange Knickers, Raisin Girl

- Jolie ♥

Notoriously Morbid Bewitching Blooms and The Stars Look Different Today Swatches

Notoriously Morbid recently released a new collection, Bewitching Blooms, which includes four eyeshadows and three Mystic Mattes.  A limited edition Night Kiss balm duo was released as well and I also picked up the David Bowie tribute shadow.

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

The Stars Look Different Today

The Stars Look Different Today:  charcoal base with tons of gold and green sparkles.  This was the shadow released to commemorate David Bowie.

Bewitching Blooms

Maypops

Maypops:  pale lavender with gold sheen and red shimmer

Unicorn Horn

Unicorn Horn:  pale blue with silver sparkles

Notoriously Morbid February 2016 Vanishing Cabinet - Stronger than Death Swatches

Welcome back, everyone!  Today, I have swatches of Notoriously Morbid's February Vanishing Cabinet.  It's inspired by Francis Ford Coppola's version of Dracula.  I had the pleasure of watching that in high school during my Monsters Lit. class and enjoyed it.  I'm really glad they went with this instead of Nosferatu because that film creeped me out.  Anyway, this month includes two mini eyeshadows, one mini highlighter, and a mini Diablo Lip Rouge.  The Lip Rouge will be brought back as a full size when NM debuts their new packaging sometime this year.

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

Love What You Love

Love What You Love:  shimmery emerald

See Me Now

See Me Now:  charcoal base with pink sheen; appears more lavender when blended

My Beloved

My Beloved:  nude pink highlighter with silver sheen

Kiss Me

Kiss Me:  opaque dark vampy berry red

Love What You Love, See Me Now, My Beloved, Kiss Me

I love how NM is including other products into their VC.  I can definitely sacrifice a shadow or two for more face and lip products.  I feel those products are pretty underrated in their lineup, especially the Diablo Lip Rouges.  I really enjoyed Kiss Me and I'm really happy they'll be rereleasing it later on.  I enjoy the texture of the Lip Rouges and can't wait to see the new tubes!

- Jolie ♥