AFK Cosmetics - Blogger Pack First Impression Swatches and Review

Welcome back, everyone!  Today, I have for you a first impression on a company I've been hearing about.  AFK Cosmetics has a store on Etsy that carries eyeshadows and tinted lip balms.  I've been receiving sample shadows from them in my other indie subscription boxes and had my interest piqued.  When the shop owner, Dena, announced on /r/IMAM that she was giving out samples of her lip balms to try out, I jumped at the chance.  They have several collections, including one inspired by Attack on Titan which I had begun reading recently.  I decided to get the Blogger Pack ($5.50 for 5 sample shadows) and I decided to get random ones, but let her know I didn't want yellows or light greens as I don't wear them.  I then put in the lip balm code; my order came out to be $8 total ($2.50 shipping) and my order arrived pretty quickly.

Sweet note from Dena :)

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

Female Titan

Female Titan:  light golden pink with gold sparkles.  This color is semi-sheer but can be built up and would make a pretty inner corner highlight.  

Notoriously Morbid Blood Countess Collection - Swatches and Review

Welcome back!  I know it seems like I'm churning out these reviews like crazy, but that's only because I've been completely behind schedule in posting them.  Today I have Notoriously Morbid's Blood Countess collection for you.  This collection is inspired by history's most infamous female serial killer - Elizabeth Bathory.  The packaging of this collection really impressed me.  It came in a little decorative paper bag and when I dumped out the contents (instead of taking them out like a proper lady), a few fake rose petals fluttered out as well!  I really love how much care and love was put into the packaging to tie the theme together.  Not only does this set include three eyeshadows, but it also features a blush, lip gloss, and nail polish!  Without further ado, lets get on with the review :)

Sweet note from Carrie - I love supporting you as well!

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

Visions

Visions:  light orange with strong green and yellow shimmers.  This was one of the free samples I received that was also a sneak peek to the upcoming (now released) Winchester Gospels.  That collection is inspired by Supernatural and this is a color based on Sam.  It's very beautiful and glowy, but I would really suggest using a white or cream base underneath to really make the color pop.

Wet n Wild Fall 2014 Limited Edition LA Street Style Collection - Swatches and Review

Wet n Wild's fall collection is now in stores now!  I'm actually a bit late posting this as they've been out since the beginning of the month, but I spent the whole month taking pictures and reviewing these goodies.  This fall collection is called LA Street style and has four 5-pan palettes, four MegaLast lipsticks (which I love), and six MegaLast nail polishes (which I love as well!).  Now I was extremely excited about the lipsticks and nail polishes because they're supposed to be all matte, as evidenced by their rubberized cats and tubes.  However, I was a bit hesitant to pick up the palettes because I heard bad reviews about their permanent 5-pan line.  I was enticed by the beautiful rose shades which seemed to be similar to Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette, so I bought all four palettes.  This post will be EXTREMELY picture heavy, but it's worth it, I promise.

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

Melrose at Night

Ipsy September 2014 - Street Style

Yay, I'm actually able to get this up before the end of September!  For some reason, I get my Ipsy bags quite late, so it's not totally my fault.  The theme for this bag is Street Style and I'm not quite sure what they were going for here.  I didn't really get any products that screamed "edgy street style!" to me besides the bag.  Nevertheless, the products I received were pretty nice and I've already used all of them at least once.

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

The bag this week is gunmetal with studs, very cute.

Face Cleanser

Face Cleanser:  This is a face cleanser sample from Nourish Organic.  I've used this twice and was pretty meh about it.  I do like the scent, it's a mild watercress smell.  The cleanser didn't dry me out, but didn't remove my makeup (which it didn't claim to do).  This is a great cleanser to have, even though I don't sound too excited about it.  I generally don't get too excited about cleansers.

Notoriously Morbid September 2014 Vanishing Cabinet - 'Dark Cheshire' Swatches and Review

It's my favorite time of the month again!  It's time for Notoriously Morbid's monthly Vanishing Cabinet :)  For the month of September, the VC was inspired by Tim Curry's various movies.  When I first realized the theme, I went a bit nuts because I thoroughly enjoyed Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Can you believe my surprise when I found out it was so close to being omitted?  Anyway, we got four mini shadows, a Lipcraft gloss (my favorites!), and a sample from AFK Cosmetics.  They also included a sample sneak peek from the next VC; I already know what it is, but I won't spoil it for you!

A note explaining the various aspects of Dark Cheshire.

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

Officer Friendly

Officer Friendly:  mahogany with orange and silver shimmers.  This is the sneak peek for next month's VC.

Aromaleigh Dryades and Diavoli Collections - Swatches and Review

Let me just warn you now, this is going to be an EXTREMELY long and picture-heavy post.  Awhile ago, Aromaleigh Cosmetics had posted a request on their FB page asked beauty bloggers and swatchers to help swatch their newest Dryades collection.  Since I'm a huge Greek mythology buff and have had my eye on the Dryades collection since its announcement, I jumped at the chance.  I sent them my information through the contact form on their site and got a reply almost immediately.  Their representative, Carol, was happy that I was interested and asked if I would be interested in swatching their upcoming (now-released) Diavoli collection as well.

Now, I don't know you know this, but I'm also a huge, HUGE fan of Dante's Inferno.  I completely lost it when Aromaleigh announced that as their Halloween collection inspiration.  Obviously, I said yes, and waited by my mailbox diligently.  Since this is supposed to be a swatch post, I'll stop rambling and get on with the pictures.

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

Dryades

Ekho

Ekho:  soft blush with green 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.