Bohemian Rhapsody: Flower Beauty Haul and Review UPDATED!

For a week or so, now, I've been hearing about Drew Barrymore's new line of Walmart-exclusive, cruelty-free cosmetics, Flower Beauty. The website claims that it's supposed to be as good as high-end, but at a drugstore price. I thought that seemed a little too good to be true, but decided to give it a shot. I needed a travel-friendly foundation, and saw a stick formula that looked promising, so Thomas and I made the trek to the nearest Walmart that carried the line...and were sorely disappointed. Not only did they not have the full line (just a measly endcap), but what was carried was almost entirely out of stock, save for a few opened products that had been tossed back on the shelves. At this point, Thomas proved just how much he loved me, and suggested we go all the way out to the other Walmart--out in the boonies, technically in the next town--to see if we fared better. Luckily, that Walmart had the entire line (in a beautiful display that I wish I'd taken a picture of), and I was able to get not only my foundation, but a few other items that caught my eye. The prices are incredible, and I figured that I needed to grab more than one thing to justify the trip. Yeah...that's it...justify the trip...

I picked up the Skincognito Stick Foundation in SF3, which is a dead-on match to my MAC NW15 skin. This is a freaking miracle, because there is absolutely no way to colormatch from the packaging or the little swatch photo on the display.

I'm a fan of the concept, and I love the dewy, but not greasy, finish that it leaves on my skin. The foundation doesn't feel heavy, and it doesn't fall into my pores. I've tried this with and without a primer, and have been happy with both results. However...

...it doesn't cover a darn thing. This is definitely a light coverage foundation. It also has a tendency to go on a little patchy. It also has a penchant for wearing off in patches, as well, but only after several hours. I don't recommend this for oily skin. That said, if you are looking for light coverage (like I was, thankfully), and have dry to normal skin, this might be an option for you. There's also no SPF, so it's fine for photography. 

Here's a shot once I'd added some concealer (Maybelline Age Rewind) and powdered down (Rimmel Stay Matte). I also threw on some eye shadow, but that's irrelevant. Again, I really like the texture and slightly luminous quality this gives. The packaging makes it perfect for travel, as well. All in all, I'm giving it a 5 out of 10. I'm happy with it because it looks nice on and I needed something light for an upcoming trip. This fit the bill. There are better choices for daily foundations, though.

***UPDATE! Application is the key to this working well. I originally used a brush, and that was a mistake. It led to patchiness and uneven coverage. This foundation really needs to be applied with clean and sanitized hands. That way, your body heat helps melt the product into your skin, and also allows for a much more even application. Since switching to this method, the foundation has given me none of the above problems, and has become an everyday favorite of mine. I do suggest using it over a primer, though.

I don't know why I even bother buying blush anymore. I always gravitate to the same darn color! I now have NARS Orgasm, NARS Super Orgasm, a NYX peachy-pink with no name, Benefit Coralista (more peach, but still), Wet 'N' Wild Pearlescent Pink, and now, the Ready, Set, Glow Blush/Bronze Duo from Flower Beauty in Beachy Keen. (I don't have a big blush collection, either. What I listed is about 90% of it. I need a peachy-pink blush intervention!) I really love this blush, though. It gives a soft, ethereal glow, and looks totally natural.

The bronzer is a winner, too. It's very pigmented, so you need a light hand, but it's not too orange and not too dark. It is shimmery, but the shimmer doesn't really show on the skin, so you can use it as contour or as an all-over bronzer. Here, I'm only using it for contour, and the blush is applied to the apples and swept toward the hairline.

The packaging is precious, and I love the rose gold accent. I honestly have no major complaints with this product, and am giving it a 9 out of 10.

This Shine On Lip Gloss is the shining star of the products I've tried. I chose Pretty In Petunia, which is showing up red in this picture, but is really a gorgeous peachy-coral cream with micro-shimmer. Oh, Pretty In Petunia, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

1. The packaging. Oh, the packaging! It looks high-end. I adore carrying this around in my purse. It's just so pretty!
2. The color. Oh, I wish these pictures did this color justice! It's juicy and shiny and opaque and pigmented and just plain delicious-looking! It brightens up my face for Spring, but doesn't look clownishly, crazy bright. It's very natural and totally gorgeous.
3. The scent. The Scent. That's probably my favorite thing about this gloss. It's not sickly sweet or candy-like. It's actually floral, but not in a grandma way. It smells exactly like fresh cut flowers. You put this on, and are transported to a lovely English garden on a breezy Summer day. It's glorious, and just adds to the high-end traits of this product.

Additional Makeup: Urban Decay Half-Baked, Smog, and W.O.S. eye shadows, Urban Decay Rehab 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil, Urban Decay Whiskey 24/7 Glide-On Pencil, Buxom Lash Mascara, Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter, Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette

4. The feel. It's like buttah. This is super-moisturizing (I swear, it's so super, it needs a cape), comfortable, and non-sticky.
5. The wear time. For a non-sticky lippie, it sure doesn't go anywhere! Hours of talking, singing, eating, drinking, and it's still there!

I'm probably going to shock a lot of folks by saying this, but this gloss looks wears, and just all out performs like a MAC Lipglass. It's just got the added bonus of being non-sticky and a fraction of the price. 10 out of 10. Heck, I'll give it an 11. I can't stop wearing it, and I want to buy more shades.

The last item I picked up was this Nail'd It cream nail polish in What's The Dafodilly-O. Again, this product did remind me of a high-end counterpart. In fact, I would wager to say that this formula is spot-on the same formula as Illamasqua (at least, the one Illamasqua polish I own, Purity). The application is identical, and the finish is the same shiny, slightly rubberized finish. The problem is: I really hate the application of the Illamasqua, and my hatred of Flower's is also identical. It's streaky and patchy, and takes three and a half (yes, a half) coats to cover the nail. That said, once it's on and even, the color is incredible, and it wears really well. I've had minimal, easily covered chipping after two days, which is better than normal for me.

So, yeah, it's identical to Illamasqua. The difference is: I'm not buying another Illamasqua. For fourteen dollars I expect better application. I will buy another Flower, though, because the finished product is amazing, and the less-than-five-dollar pricetag is a lot more wallet-friendly. 6 out of 10.

To sum up: If you're in the market for some makeup, and want high-quality on a budget, this is definitely a brand to try. I'm really excited to see what Drew comes up with next!

The Saga Continues: UNII Palette Review Part III

Hello, 2012! With the new year, we have a chance to start over; wipe the slate clean, if you'll pardon the cliche. Thomas and I are ringing in the new year by moving into our very first house. No, we're not homeowners (yet), but we'll be in an actual house. Not a townhouse. This is a real house with a real yard and real driveway to separate us from the immediate neighbors (finally). There is even--get this--a white picket fence. Seriously. Best of all, the landlady's a real doll. She's also my mom.

Oh, did I neglect to mention that? Thomas and I are moving into the house I grew up in. My family moved out of it ages ago, and it's just sitting there, waiting for the housing market to turn around so that someone can buy it. Ridiculously long (like, Tolstoy-length) story short, we wanted a house, the house needed a family, and Jupiter aligned with Mars. We're moving in!

Of course, this requires packing, which requires organizing, which requires boxes, storage containers, and the like. I decided to start small and work my way up, like a Russian stacking doll. Maybe the little stuff can consolidate into the bigger items, and take up even less of the U-Haul's precious real estate? I don't know, yet, but I figured it was worth a shot. I'll let you all know how it works out.

Now, by small, I mean small. I've started with the makeup I tend to keep out on my counter. Most of my cosmetics are in a fantastic train case in my closet, and I just grab as I need. However, a few of more frequently used products are kept in an organizer on my bathroom counter (which is horrible, as the steam from the shower can damage them, but I really have no other option right now. I'll have a drawer in the new house, but my current bathroom has no drawers. Not one. Zip. Nada. It's a scandal, it's an outrage). In an effort to reduce some of larger, less efficient packaging on a few of these go-to products, and save a couple of those products from some serious damage (caused by the larger, less efficient packaging--again, long story), I turned to the UNII company.

If you recall, back in April, I ran across this new, innovative product, the UNII palette. This was a completely customizable palette that could be filled with refill or de-potted cosmetics. After reading and watching review after glowing review, I ordered my own and wrote my own review here.

The palette was a revelation. It was sleek, gorgeous, and held positively everything I could need for travel. The design was sturdy, air-tight, and I never worried that my makeup would break, or that any dust/glitter/residue would end up all over my purse or luggage. I wanted a dozen more, but, alas, had to make do with the just the one for the time being.

Well, the impending move came up, and my amazing UNII was stuffed to the gills (to the point of needing to move things into another case), so a second palette had moved from "want" territory on over to "necessity". However, when I went to order the new case, I was met with the news that things had changed on the UNII front. The cases were...different.

Well, different is good, right? Change can be for the better, right? Um...let's talk about this for a sec.

I ordered one. I had no real choice, at this point. Here's the breakdown:

The Good: The color is just gorgeous. I ordered turquoise, and it's a bright, Spring-y teal with just a sprinkling of fine glitter throughout. The inner plate is a coordinating shade of pale aqua, and the new thumbgrip is much more space-conscious than the older design. The palette looks amazing, and seems just as sturdy as ever.

Photo Credit: UNII

The Bad: It's no longer air-tight. Not even close. The rubber gasket in the original design has been replaced by hard plastic, and none of the inner workings are removable for cleaning. The UNII company has stated, though, that the intend to bring back the rubber gasket. The magnetic plate is nice, as most of my pans are plain old ordinary metal, but not everything sticks right to it. Magnet to magnet doesn't work very well, and some items that already contain magnets have to be moved around the palette until they "click" into place, while other items (including anything aluminum) require a "Not-A-Magnet" sheet to allow them to even stick at all. Let me just say that this "Not-A-Magnet" option does not seem secure. The hold is weak, and I am very concerned. Luckily, only one product needed it. If your pans are just plain metal (think: Stila refills), you'll be good to go.

The Ugly: The palette is not as deep as it used to be. The magnetic plate is thicker than the sheet metal that used to line the bottom of the case, so you can't fit the same products from the old into the new. For example, in this picture, you can see where I have a mini eyeshadow primer, travel brush, travel eyeliner, and short (really used) lipliner.

Photo Credit: Me, but now on the UNII website. That's how much I love the old design.

Um...yeah...the brush still fits. That's it. The flat product pans fit without any problem, but the round items are too large for the new case to close around. If I take the lid off of the lipliner, it works, but then I have a whole host of other problems to contend with.

So, in the past, I could fit everything I could ever need for touch-ups in a UNII palette. Now, I have to carry my eyeliner and lipliner separately. It doesn't seem like a big deal, unless you've ever had to turn a purse upside-down to find an errant lipliner, only to find out later that it fell out in your car, inbetween the seats, and you're never going to be able to fish it out, so you have to buy a new one, which will only get lost again...not that that's ever happened to me. Strictly hypothetical, of course.

In the end, it's still a really good case, and a fine way to organize your products or keep badly packaged items from being destroyed. Honestly, when the rubber gasket returns, I plan to purchase another palette. It's just not as good of a case as it used to be. To use another cliche, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Final Verdict: 7 out of 10. Anybody know where I can find some flat liner pencils?

Erin's Favorite Things 2011

2011 is almost out of here! To celebrate the passing year, I'm bringing back Erin's Favorite Things!! Here's this year listing of all things adorable!

Food
Raising Cane's
It kills me to replace last year's winner, Foosackly's, with a chain, but I have to. The chicken fingers may not be quite as flavorful, but they're huge and juicy, and the Cane's sauce is outstanding. Throw in the best Texas Toast I've ever tried and tea so sweet it'll rot your teeth right out of your head, and you've got a guilty pleasure worth confessing. Four stars.

Krispy Kreme Halloween Doughnuts
These were beyond precious, and gave my diet a run for its money. If you missed them this year, just wait. They'll be back.

Fashion Trends
JewelMint
I just can't say enough good about this company. The jewelry is affordable, superior quality, and I've yet to wear a piece without being stopped by someone who wants to know where I got my gorgeous [insert piece here]. I'm calling this the All-Around Best Find of 2011.

Cosmetics
Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Naked
Non-sticky, moisturizing, natural "I'm not wearing anything" color with the perfect amount of shine. It doesn't hurt that the packaging is super-cute, either.

Benefit Coralista
I have all but replaced my NARS Orgasm (sorry, Mom) with this. It's a soft, peachy pink blush with just a hint of sheen. Naturally gorgeous, and price-conscious to boot.

Health and Beauty
Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller Gel
This is a hold-over from last year, and will continue to be for as long as they make it. This is the only thing to ever effectively keep bags at bay, and that makes it a "can't live without" if there ever was one.

Philosophy Help Me
Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Every penny. This retinol treatment made a difference in the appearance of my skin in one use. I kid thee not. After a week, other people starting noticing. It's magic in a tube.

Pop Culture
Movies
Crazy Stupid Love--quite possibly my new favorite movie
The Muppets--happiness on a screen
Tucker and Dale VS. Evil--the most I've laughed all year
The Help--subject aside (opinions differ, I know), but this was one of the best acted films of the year.
The Adjustment Bureau--romantic fantasy that really makes you think

TV Shows
Community--the funniest show on television
Supernatural--back to its roots and better than ever
Doctor Who--my favorite show on the planet. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want a TARDIS of your own
How I Met Your Mother--Barney's character arc this season has been extraordinary
The Walking Dead--incredible writing and acting; some of the best of television right now

Blogs
The Bloggess--a 6 ft. tall metal chicken and Copernicus the Homicidal Monkey. 'Nuff said.
Regretsy--snark with heart.
The Pioneer Woman--I've gained ten pounds just reading her recipes, and now want to move to a farm.
Cake Wrecks/Epbot--Jen Yates is a comedic wonder, and her crafting skills are enviable.
Magnolia Thoughts--funny, insightful, and incredibly well-written. Yes, she's my friend. No, that doesn't matter. It's just a darn good blog.

Happy Almost New Year, everybody!!

Light Me Up Like an 80s Video!

Oh, Dear God in Heaven, I wish I had a use for this! You know how haunted houses sometimes have entire rooms that are nothing but black walls with black light eyes, hand prints, or "blood" spatters? Or, have you ever been on a ride at an amusement park (think: Fantasyland at Disney) and giggled because your white t-shirt and socks were glowing? Well, now you can enjoy that same effect on your face!

 

Okay, so when I put it like that, I'm less enthused...but you get my point, right? You can make your makeup black light reflective!! How freaking cool is that?!

 

I really am tickled by this Make Up For Ever Fluo Night Black Light Pigment. You see, you can either mix it with your makeup, hair gel, body lotion--whatever--or just paint it right on for black light effects. The thing is, in regular light, it's undetectable. That means you can do your make up for the dance club, drinks at a cool bar, or that crazy Halloween party before you go to work, run errands, or take a ride on public transportation without looking ridiculous. Seriously, this beats glitter hands down. I'm a little sick of looking like Glinda the Good Witch, and I'm sure Thomas would appreciate not finding little pink sparkles in his car after we go out. Plus, just look:

 

Photo Credit: The Look

MUFE Fluo Light Black Light Pigment is available exclusively at Sephora for $31. When I say it can be mixed with other makeup products, I mean it. Supposedly, it will not affect the color. Also, a damp brush is suggested for intensity and longevity. Have fun, and let me know if you try this out. I'd love to see some pictures!

Exit Through the Cosmetics Counter

*Please note: While Adorable Napalm appreciates art in all forms, this site does not advocate illegal activities of any sort. Please don't go spray paint stuff on your neighbor's garage. Thank you.

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Exit Through the Gift Shop, the documentary (mockumentary? Who knows?) by mysterious street artist, Banksy. If you've never had the opportunity to view some of the artist's satirical work, do yourself a favor and Google him NOW. His pieces are at once hysterical and thought provoking. Here's one that I particularly enjoyed:



Photo Credit: Banksy.co.uk

Chances are, I'll never have enough money to own a Banksy, and will just have to be content with viewing the random pieces of street art I've seen around town (yes! He came to my town! At some point! I have no idea when! I'm very easily excited!) until the property owners paint over them.

If you're as interested in street art as I am (or if you just like cool stuff), MAC has come out with a new line of Street Art-inspired cosmetics, Art of Powder. Here's the Street Art Eyeshadow, a blend of pinks, gold, and lavender:

Photo Credit: maccosmetics.com

There's also a highlighter and bronzer that are equally nifty. All three products are priced at $38 each, which is a little steep, but a lot less expensive than an original Banksy...or the fine for spraying your own art, come to think of it. MacCosmetics.com

That's My Bag, Baby!: Modella Travel Bag Review

Photo Credit: Overstock.com

Things are crazed around here today, so I'm going to leave you with my latest must-have find. If you do any traveling at all, you're going to want to surf on over to Overstock.com right now (they may sell out), or hit up your local Wal-Mart (where I found mine) and pick up a Modella Fitted Weekender Bag with Travel Bottles. Obviously, it's not a quart-sized plastic baggie, so it's not getting past TSA in your carry-on, but it's easily the nicest travel bag I've seen in a long, long time.

The outside zippered section is breathable mesh, and houses sturdy, taut elastic loops and mesh pockets for either the enclosed bottles (which are great) or your own travel-sized toiletries. There's also a bath pouf included in the Wal-Mart version, and what looks like a bar soap holder in the Overstock. 

The next zipper bisects (big word!) the interior, with a clear plastic upper compartment, and another breathable mesh compartment below. You can tell that the plastic is "upper" because there's a handy dandy little hook for hanging on the shower rod or towel bar. These are very roomy compartments, with plenty of room for all of your travel-sized necessities. I mean, it's not going to hold your full-sized cans of whatever, but you're traveling. You don't need 16 ounces of goo. 

I'm using the plastic compartment for things like my toothpaste, shaving cream...things that could possibly explode. Laugh, but I've had it happen before. I've never had so much fun in my life as I did cleaning moisturizer out of my luggage, then trudging all over NYC to find a CVS to replace it (I'm particular about my moisturizer, okay?). I used every.single.towel in the room, and gave the hairdryer a significant workout. Ah, memories...

Anyway, the mesh compartment is large enough to hold a couple of makeup palettes, a few brushes, foundation...basically everything you'll need. To give you some idea how awesome that is, the last time I traveled, I needed two (2) dump train cases to get all my stuff to and from Florida. I fit everything in this bag. This isn't a bulky bag, either. It lays flat, and takes up very little space. It's just well-utilized space.

Overstock has a pink and black one for $19.95. Supposedly it has four compartments. I never found a fourth, but this case may be a slightly different style. My pink plaid case from the local brick and mortar Wally World was less than $15. 

Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. It's darn near close to perfect. 

Where Did I Put Those Red Leather Boots?

Photo Credit: Temptalia

Holy hole in a doughnut, Batman! DC Comics and MAC have teamed up to bring Wonder Woman-inspired cosmetics to us lowly mortals, beginning February 10, 2011! 

 

If you're like me, the prospect alone makes you want to slide on your patriotic bathing suit, gas up the invisible plane, and head to the nearest MAC counter to lasso up some pretty potions. However, we have to wait a little while, so let's take this opportunity to preview the merchandise.

 

The collection consists of Lipsticks, Lipglasses, Eyeshadow Quads, Penultimate Eyeliner, Pigments, Blush Duos, Opulash Mascara, Nail Lacquer, Lashes, Reflects Glitter, and Mineralize Skin Finish, as well as various makeup bags, brush sets, a mirror, and t-shirt.

 

In keeping with Wonder Woman's "larger-than-life" image, several items, namely the Mineralize Skinfinish, Eyeshadow Quads, Pigment, Opulash, Lipsticks, and Lipglass, have been super-sized.  Of course, their prices were also inflated, so there's no "33% More Free" deal here. 

 

Obviously, all shades and product names carry the Wonder Woman theme. According to Gordon Espinet, vice-president of Global Makeup Artistry for MAC Worldwide, "For spring, we have seen that one of the biggest outstanding trends is a very early, fresh '70's look. Think a shampoo commercial from 1972, or a Cheryl Tiegs or Farrah Fawcett type of girl."  That screams Diana Prince, don't you think? Look for sexy nudes, power-packed reds, and sassy purples, bearing names such as Secret Identity, Spirit of Truth, and Star Studded. One of my all-time faves, Russian Red lipstick, is featured in this collection, so at least one color is definitely awesome.    

 

As for the packaging...this appears to be a bone of contention, at least on the fabulous Temptalia blog. Readers seem to have sectioned themselves off into Team Nostalgia and Team Tacky camps: Team Tacky thinks the packaging looks like it came from a dime-store toy aisle, and Team Nostalgia argues that the childlike packaging is part of the charm.  

 

Now, I've only seen photographs, so I really can't comment on the quality of the packaging. I do recall being quite disappointed in the packaging for the Disney Villains collection, so I'm a little wary. However, the photographs look adorable, and I love the cartoonish, playful, comic-book vibe they were going for.  I guess this is just a "wait and see" area.  

 

One more thing: if you're in the market for MAC brushes, now's a good time to snap some up. Sets of three (eyeshadow or face) in cute "Utility Belt" pouches are going for $40 through this collection. A single brush can run close to that, so this is a steal. 

 

For pictures of the entire collection, check out Temptalia.