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

Innocent + Twisted Alchemy August 2015 Subscription Swatches

I know this is a bit late, but here's Innocent + Twisted Alchemy's August subscription box!  I was particularly happy for this one because of the theme.  It was originally inspired after my favorite podcast, Welcome to Night Vale, which I listen to before bed because Cecil's voice is soothing and I pre ordered the book as well (I also saw the cast at a live reading!).  However, due to the creators of the show asking people not to sell fan made products, I+T's owner, Linda, changed the names.  Several guest indies who created products exclusively for that box didn't get to change their names in time so it's still Night Vale themed.  I asked Linda what the original names were, mainly because I love WtNV and will be putting them next to the new names.

Most of the colors are also purple themed, as that is WtNV's color palette.  I don't usually care for purples, but I'm such a sucker for packaging and themes that I absolutely love this box ♥

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

Moon Dreams

Moon Dreams/A Color for You:  pigmented silvery lavender

Dark Moon Rising

Dark Moon Rising/Eternal:  beautiful royal purple with blue sparkles and red shimmers, perfect Night Vale color

Scaredy Cat Cosmetics - Green Eyeshadow Swatches and Review

Welcome back, everyone!  I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season and Christmas shopping :)  For the past several weeks, I've been receiving my Black Friday orders and Scaredy Cat was the first one to come in.  I've actually reviewed them in the past and really liked them, so I figured I might as well pick up some full-sized jars since they were having a sale.

Coincidentally, all the colors I picked up ended up being some form of green, which is great because green eyeshadows are my favorite!  I usually buy sample sizes from companies, but Scaredy Cat's packaging is so beautiful that I really needed a full size.  The owner designs her own label art for each color and I've been lemming after Draconia for the longest time - I only resisted for so long because it's a color I don't normally wear.  I made my order on the day of Black Friday and it shipped out the day after.  I'm pretty sure I received my package by the next Tuesday, which is lightning fast.

Scaredy Cat doesn't really personalize their invoices, which is what I'm used to, or give any free samples with orders.  So if that's one of the things that matter to you, then I suggest you skip this shop.  However, the quality of shadows are great and the packaging is very beautiful (so beautiful in fact, I had to take multiple shots of each jar...)

Onto the swatches!

Pictures taken under daylight bulb and swatched over ELF Glitter Primer (top half) and ELF Essential Primer (bottom half)

Orbital

Orbital:  matte gray with teal shimmers.  This is an interesting color because it darkens over a sticky base and the teal shimmers are brought out, making it seem like a different color.  It's still relatively pigmented over a regular primer, just no shimmers.

Innocent + Twisted Alchemy September 2014 Subscription - Swatches and Review

Hey everyone!  It's nearing the end of September so I'm going to try to get all these September subscription posts out before the end of the month.  The first one I received was from Innocent+Twisted Alchemy - they always deliver at a timely fashion and leave me plenty of time to write my review before the month is over.  This month was inspired by woodland creatures and includes a good amount of earthy tones and fall colors (which I love).  The owner, Linda, also decided to give us a colored drawing this time, and it's absolutely beautiful.  As usual, she included 3-4 samples from other companies including a lipstick and perfume sample.

Closeup of her beautiful drawing.  I like how the eyes match the amber necklace.

Pictures taken under daylight bulb and swatches over ELF Essential Primer (click to enlarge)

Chains of Reality

Chains of Reality:  matte mahogany with very slight silver shimmer.  I'm so happy that Linda is giving us more mattes.  Personally, I'm not a matte fan, but I think hers are so pigmented and silky that it's hard to resist.

Innocent + Twisted Alchemy - May 2014 Subscription

Hi everyone!  I have innocent + twisted alchemy's May subscription box for you today.  This month is special because it's i+t's anniversary and also the owner, Linda's, birthday month :)  To commemorate this special month, she included pressed blushes and samples of her absolutely favorite products.  I was pretty excited because most of her favorite products have been on my to-try list, so this is a great way to dip my toes in.  As usual, I have pictures and swatches of i+t's products first, which include three eyeshadows and two pressed blushes.

Rose Gold EOTD

If you guys weren't aware, I'm currently on a low-buy until I use all my indie eyeshadows at least once.  I press my indie samples into palettes, so they've been put into rotation.  I finally rotated into the Scaredy Cat palette containing their "Rose Gold" shadow!  I'm a huge fan of rose golds and can never resist getting one when a company releases them.  Since rose gold is a nice neutral, it made for a pretty subtle work-safe look.  Of course, I can usually wear what I want to work, but for more conservative environments, this look should work well too!

Eyes:

Scaredy Cat's Rose Gold - lid

Victorian Disco's Sin'Dorei - inner corner

Victorian Disco's Queen Beryl - outer v and crease

ELF's Liquid Eyeliner

I was pretty surprised at how soft Queen Beryl came out to be.  I may have added too much glycerin while pressing, so color payoff may have been dampened a bit.  It still went with this eye look nicely, so I didn't mind.

Another full-face picture

I really enjoyed this look, but then again it's a neutral eye and it's pretty hard to go wrong with neutrals.  This is why I usually like to experiment with brighter colors, sure it leaves more room for error, but when it's done right, I feel confident.  Neutral looks are a tried-and-true method for me, and I do them when I'm in a rush or feeling lazy and I need to rush out the door with someone I know will look good.  I really recommend Rose Gold and Sin'Dorei.  They're both really nice colors and the textures are silky and pigmented.

- Jolie ♥

Scaredy Cat Cosmetics - First Impression (Swatches and Review)

Merry Christmas everyone!  I have a short review for you today of my first order from Scaredy Cat Cosmetics.  They are an indie shop that only has a website on Etsy right now but it's fairly straightforward and easy to navigate.  I actually wanted to try this shop for the longest time because of their cute packaging.  Full-sized eyeshadows used to come in a unique triangle shaped jar and sample sizes come in little glass vials called 'Trial Vials'.  The owner ended up changing up the jars and now it comes in a tall round jar.  All full-size jars are decorated with beautiful drawings designed by the owner.

Even though I know I can never use up a full-size eyeshadow, I knew I had to have one for the jar and design.  The owner told me that she still had some triangle jars left, so she can give me that instead of the new jar :)  I chose a full-size of Y So Sirius and ten Trial Vials for $1 each.

Shipping was extremely quick and the goodies arrived in a small box as opposed to normal bubble mailers.  People used to complain about the sifter on the triangle jar because the holes were tiny (salt-shaker like); I ended up throwing out the sifter and dipping my brush in.