A Do and a Don't: E.L.F. Mini Haul and Review

A few weeks ago, E.L.F. had a 40% off sale online. There were a couple of items that I'd been eyeing, but hadn't quite built up the courage to try out, so this seemed high time to bite the bullet and order. I picked up, among other things, the Prism Eyeshadow Palette in Sunset and the new 22-Piece Mini On the Go Palette. Normally, the 22-piece palette goes for $15, but right now, you can get both palettes for $10 each.  

Top: Prism Eyeshadow Palette. Bottom: 22-Piece Mini On the Go Palette.

Now, because I like to end things on a good note, let's start out with the 22-piece palette and get that out of the way.

You see, for me, this was a fail. Through and through. It's really a shame, too, because the idea is fantastic. It's just the execution that falters.

Before I go any farther, let's start with the good: I very much enjoy the concept of carrying a purse-friendly, compact palette with shadows, blushes, glosses, applicators, and a mascara. Normally, you get some combination of a few of those elements, but rarely all of them. Also, kudos for putting the cream products in a section to themselves, thus preventing the powder shadows and blushes from contaminating the glosses. It really sucks when you apply a pretty pink gloss, only to find that particles of black eyeshadow have smeared across you lips, as well. There's also a really nice mirror, so you actually can apply your makeup "on the go".

And that's about it. And I hate that.

So, what's so terrible about this palette? Unfortunately, pretty much everything (oh, I HATE this review!! It's so negative, and I really adore E.L.F.!). To start with, the packaging is boring, shoddy, and just plain bulky. Sadly, I didn't get a picture of it from the side, but while it's only about the length and width of a credit card, the height is ridiculous. It's a brick. Think of two Altoids tins stacked one atop the other, and you've got a pretty accurate representation. It's supposed to be travel-friendly, but there's not a pocket in my purse large enough to hold it (and I travel heavy). Of course, even if I could fit it into my bag, I wouldn't because the clasp is flimsy, and I'm afraid it would open up and spill everywhere. It's just not workable as a travel palette.

Secondly, the products aren't very good. The eyeshadows are chalky and lacking in the pigment department. Below, I have a random sampling of some of the shadows, and I had to really work to build them up to this intensity. The fourth shadow from the left--see if you can spot it. It's supposed to be the cornflower blue in the top row of the palette. Now, if you look at the shadows in the pan, they appear to have a variety of finishes, ranging from matte to glitter. However, when you apply them, they all come off as matte, and unfortunately, muddy together. I tried wearing a few to work, and while I didn't have any fading or creasing, the overall look was so embarrassingly...the only word I have is muddy, y'all. I'm sorry...that I had to pull out my usual purse palette and re-do it before I left the office.

Of course, E.L.F. shadows tend to be hit or miss, but the lip products have, generally, been pretty good. I had higher hopes for the second tier.

See! The colors are lovely, and there's a nice range of shades. Another thing that bugged me about the shadows was the apparent randomness of color choices. When I think of a purse palette, I think of touch-up shades: a deep shade for adding drama, a shimmer to perk up a look or cover creasing...that sort of thing. The shadows didn't deliver on that, but the lip colors--more sticks than glosses, really--fared better. Sadly, they feel kind of gritty on the lips, look thick and chalky, and wear off quickly. The lip brush is splayed and unusable, and shed the first time I tried to dip it into the product. Below is another random sampling of colors. They are very pretty in the pan and in swatches. It's just a shame they wear so poorly.

Left to Right: the light pink, the last shade, the deep purple.

On to the blushes! I'll be perfectly honest with you; I did not try these. I couldn't. I don't have a brush small enough. The included brush wasn't usable, and each color is roughly the size of a postage stamp. Again, this is a shame because E.L.F. tends to do well with blushes, and these colors are just gorgeous. From what I can tell, they appear to be a subtle golden highlight, a raspberry blush, and a light, shimmery bronzer.

I did swatch these, and that made me even more unhappy. They swatch well and look just lovely. I just can't use them.

I didn't even bother with the mascara. It's their standard studio mascara, so if you like it, you'll like this. It's not enough to make or break this palette. So, in summation, it's a wonderful idea. It just didn't work.

Part of me wonders if, perhaps, this was rushed into production. Recently, Urban Decay released the Anarchy and Shattered Face Cases (shadows, blushes, and a lip pencil in a compact case), and I wonder if this was launched as a response to that. Granted, the case more resembles a Too Faced Glamour To Go, but I really do wonder. This is pure speculation, but I get the feeling this started out as a dupe of the Glamour To Go, and then went into production early because of the Urban Decay. Maybe not. It's just a theory, and the only way I can understand how something that was so clearly not thought through could be released. Hopefully, they'll keep with the idea, but tweak it so that it works better. Personall, I'd reduce the number of shadows to eight and up the quality of each, make the glosses "glosses" (creamier and easier to apply without a brush), and include only one blush and one bronzer/highlight (to increase the size of each). I'm not sure what to do about the bulk of the packaging, but even rounding the corners would help. Right now, it's a mess.

Okay, now that that unpleasantness is out of the way, let me show you my new friend:

Isn't it pretty?! These are well-done shadows, y'all. This is the Prism Palette in Sunset, and here's how E.L.F. describes it:

These ultra-silky and lustrous eyeshadows look like a powder but feel like a cream, allowing for a smooth and flawless application. Use to contour, line, and highlight for a radiant finish. The luminous, shimmery formula creates a gorgeous range of looks for both day and night.

They ain't lyin'. I have had very little luck with E.L.F. shadows in the past. The best I've ever had was half of the Maleficent palette from last year. When I opened this baby up, I let out an audible gasp. I could tell just by looking at the shadows that they were going to be special.

These swatches are crap. In person, they look much richer and sparkle like nobody's business. The formula is fantastic, too. They're creamy and silky, and not even slightly powdery. These swatches are in palette order, and those second, third, and fourth shades are standouts.

Is this a perfect palette? No. You will need to augment it with some matte or satin shadows, and probably with some deeper shades to put together a complete look. If you have Urban Decay's Naked Basics, you're set. I can completely forgive that, though, because of the formula. I would put it on par with Stila, honestly. It's that kind of soft, slightly flaky (not flaking off, but it's almost like it applies in a solid flake form...or maybe I'm insane...either way), shimmering texture. I didn't experience any creasing or fading in the hours that I wore these, and felt confident enough to use the palette for a holiday party look. These are just d@*n good shadows, and you get six of them for ten dollars. There are two other versions, Naked and Smoke (I tell you, they are seriously trying to get in on the Urban Decay audience), with neutral and jewel tones, respectively. I haven't tried them, yet, but after falling in love with Sunset, I may need to place another order.

Final Verdict

22-Piece On the Go Palette: 2 out of 10. Great idea, but executed poorly.

Prism Palette: 9 out of 10. Gorgeous, and tremendously good quality. On par with high end. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Not Just For Air-Conditioners and Prom Dresses Anymore

I am a firm believer in duct tape. I've used it to spike stages, hold up green screens, re-attach a co-star's head (sorry, Herbie), replace a suitcase wheel (that one took some doing), create the form for a dummy...pretty much anything you could think of. I've also seen my share of duct tape fashions. Heck, the folks at Duck Duct Tape host a contest every year to see who has the best duct tape Prom attire, and let me just say, those kids go all out, and come up with some extremely creative entries. Unfortunately, most of the duct tape accessories I've seen floating around the web have been a little...well, bland. Cute, but kind of plain. Then, this showed up on my Facebook feed:

Photo Credit (This and All): Kenzie Tapia

That is decidedly not bland. Here's a close-up of the flower detail, along with the inner pocket and lining:

This cutie was made by Kenzie Tapia, an artist and dance teacher. I love her choice of colors, and the floral touch sends this purse from crafty to couture. It's just darling, and the second I saw it, I knew I had to share it with you guys. Here's my other favorite, the matching ruffled wallet:

Squee!! Those little ruffles are so sweet, and the duct tape gives them an almost leather-like appearance. Of course, it's fully functional, with pockets for cards and a cash compartment.

If you are interested in seeing more of Kenzie's work and maybe picking up an item or two, please check out her Facebook page. Also, if you guys know of any independent artists that you would like to see featured on Adorable Napalm, please let me know. We're all in this together!

In Case of Emergency: Profusion Spotlight Eye/Lip Palette

Back in October, I raved about Too Faced's Glamour To Go palette. I'm still absolutely in love with it, and it's taken up permanent residency in my purse. In fact, just this morning it saved me from going around with one eye only partially lined (it's been a long week). Plus, $22 is a fantastic deal for eight good-sized shadows, travel blush and bronzer, and a pretty lipgloss. The Dream Edition one that I have isn't available anymore, but the new one out is nearly identical. The shadow and gloss shades are slightly different, but still infinitely wearable. As I said, it's a great purse kit, and I feel a lot more secure knowing that I'm prepared for all contingencies. Need a quick gloss touch-up? Covered. Find out you're going out after work and have no time to change? Covered. Realize you highlighted your right eye, but not your left (not that I've ever done that...*whistles nonchalantly*)? Covered. Having a designated purse kit has been a real lifesaver.

However...(you totally knew that was coming) it's almost Summer. Maybe you're going on a beach vacay; maybe you have a penchant for leaving your purse in the car; maybe, just maybe, you're like me and live in the ninth cir--Deep South, where it's hotter 'n Hades. Whatever the situation may be, you might just not feel comfortable having high end makeup sitting in your purse where it can get lost, stolen, or just plain melt. In that case, I think I may have an alternative for you.

Profusion (remember my gushing about their 99-cent palettes?) has a lipgloss/eyeshadow travel kit now, available at Ulta for $3.99. You get six shadows, six glosses, mirror and travel brush, all in a super-cute silver and black polka-dotted package. It's about the size of a lipstick holder, and perfect for tossing in a purse. For comparison purposes, here it is next to the Too Faced (which slightly larger than a credit card):

The Profusion is a smidge smaller, but comparable. Here they are opened, for a better look:



And there's my armpit in the mirror. Classy.

 The Profusion is on the left, and the Too Faced on the right. Obviously, they're not the same products, but they are basically the same size.

Now, just to get them out of the way, here are my issues with the Profusion kit:
1) The brush sucks. Either side will do in a pinch, but you're better off carrying a small travel brush kit, which you'd need to do with the other kit, anyway.

2) There's not a blush or bronzer option. You're still getting a ton of product for four bucks, but, in my case, blush and bronzer tend to be what I need most from a purse palette. That said, you could toss this non-space-consuming blush/bronzer duo from E.L.F. in and have everything you need. It's $3, so you're still only up to $7, or roughly a third of the price of the Too Faced.

Okay, with that out of the way, here's why this thing rocks:

Are  you believing that pigmentation? Those are some gorgeous colors, and I love that they give you two neutrals, two brights, and two smokier colors. There is some glitter, but mostly just shimmer, and so far, I've not experienced any real fallout. Sure, a brown or a matte would have been nice, but for four bucks, I'm not complaining.

Again, check out the vibrancy of those colors, and how creamy they are! I ran out of fingers, so the deeper red isn't shown in the above picture. It's the only one that wasn't super creamy. It is shown in the swatches below.

Left to right: clear, pink, peachy beige, purple, orange-red, red

These are very good glosses. They're moisturizing, wear for a decent amount of time, and look beautiful on. 

I picked this up because I needed something little and cheap to hit a dollar amount for a gift with purchase. I had no idea I'd come to love it so much. I'm keeping my Too Faced in my purse, but this is going in my beach bag. 

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. If you see this, grab it. It's a Summer must-have.

P.S. There's also a pink kit available from Ulta with all berry-hued shades, but it's in-store only. Also, keep the plastic covers for the glosses and shadows. They fit snugly and will keep the products from mixing.

The Reluctant Princess

I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a princess. I don't mean that I'm difficult to deal with, or that I have to have things a certain way or I'll throw a temper tantrum (hush, Mom). I mean this in quite the literal sense. I am a princess. Not only that, but a specific one, apparently.

You see, I was eleven when Disney's Beauty and the Beast came out in theatres. That was always my favorite fairy tale, and I absolutely loved the movie. I had bangs that had a terrible cowlick, thanks to a beauty school (God, I hope she decided to) drop-out, and was really self-conscious because they split down the middle. Well, Belle's did, too! Everyone noticed and thought I looked just like Belle (not hardly), and I even got stopped in the mall a couple of times, just so the person who stopped me could comment on the resemblance. I ate it up.

Fast forward a decade and a half, and I'm a struggling New York actor. I've been in the city a month, and get my first role--Beauty, in a non-Disney children's musical of the fairy tale. I wore a tiara and fell in love with the Beast every day for three whole months. Unfortunately, it didn't pay very well, so when it ended, I came home instead of going back to New York.

My very first day at work as a voice-over artist, I met this really cute guy. Six months later, I'm standing in a bridal shop, about to try on a wedding dress. The last thing I wanted was a costume. I've worn so many wedding dresses onstage, I didn't want to look like the actress playing the bride. I just wanted to be me. The first dress I tried on was the dress.

"OH--you look just like Belle!"

Yep, that's the first thing my Mom said when she saw her darling daughter in her wedding gown. The bridal consultant agreed. Great...

The day of the wedding finally arrives, and I throw on my dress (quite literally--it was one crazy day) and run to where the photographer has set up. It's the first time any of my bridesmaids have seen me in my dress.

"OH--you look just like Belle!"

I give up. At that time, I totally didn't see it. Sure, it had a pick-up skirt, but it was ivory, no little sleevelets, and lots of embellishments and a train. And yes, I had my mostly brown hair half-up, half-down with a tiara, but it was really more of a headband and made of gold flowers. Oh, and I had a veil! Did Belle have a veil? I don't think so!

Last year, after almost two years of marriage, Thomas and I took a vacation to Disney World. I love the cute shops on Main Street, and was in one, looking at some figurines. Thomas came up behind me and pointed to a figurine of Belle, but one painted with watercolors so the colors were all very sheer. Her dress looked almost, dare I say, ivory.

"Hey, Erin! That looks just like your wedding dress."

Oh. My. God. It did. I finally saw it. Seriously, if you tacked some little sleevelets onto the bodice, it's the same dress. Oh. My. God.

We're getting ready to trek back to the Magic Kingdom in a few months, so when I saw this, I just had to laugh. If I ever win the lottery, I guess I'll have to pick one up.

Photo by Dooney and Bourke

This is from the Pop Princess Collection by Dooney and Bourke. Don't you just love the little cameo sillouettes of the princesses? This is a slightly more grownup way to show off your princess status than, say, wearing a tiara in the park. Not that I'd ever do that. I mean, that would be silly. Right? $220.00, disneystore.com (so yeah, no kidding with the winning the lottery comment).

Also, in case you were wondering, I'm still going through all my samples. Today, in honor of the first Disney Princess, I decided to try DKNY Be Delicious Eau de Parfum spray. The full-size bottle is shaped like an apple, and the perfume is made with notes of American apple, so it seemed fitting for Snow White.

From Sephora:

A modern feast for the senses. Served in a sleek metal and glass apple bottle, this juicy fragrance combines the scent of apple with a sophisticated blend of exotic flowers and sensual woods. Like the city that inspired it, Be Delicious celebrates individuality with refreshing spirit.

Notes:American Apple, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Candid Magnolia, Tuberose, White Muguet, Rose, Violet, Sandalwood, Tender Skin Accord, Blonde Woods, White Amber.

Style:Free-spirited. Refreshing. Unique.

Perfume reacts to your body's chemistry, so it's different for each person. For me, I'm not getting any apple. I am getting a lot of the Magnolia and Tuberose, which, sadly, I seem to be allergic to. Oops. Be Delicious, on me, is mainly floral, but after several hours of wearing it, I can detect a little cucumber. Obviously, since it's making my eyes burn and water, I won't be able to wear it again, but I'm not averse to trying another DKNY scent, just one with fewer flowers. One ounce retails for $40 at Sephora.com.

So hey, I have the dress, the handsome prince, I occasionally talk to birds, and have an aversion to an apple. Maybe I do need to track down a tiara. Hmmm...

It's Like a Heatwave, Burning In My...Oh, Everything...

So, it's a million and twelve degrees down here in the Deep South, with about 5000% humidity. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating...slightly. All I know is that it's hot. I mean, ice-water-chugging, egg-frying-on-the-sidewalk, Fall-can't-get-here-fast-enough miserable. My apartment can't seem to get any cooler than 80 degrees, and that's with the AC cranked up, ceiling fans, and one of those Hawaiian Breeze ocillating fans. The birds love it. Of course, they're tropical and I am not.

I know it's not just here, too. The whole country seems to be in a continuous heatwave this Summer, and for that, I'm sorry. I went through three or four cans of hairspray on The Night Shift, so I take full blame for any extra holes in the ozone. Please accept my sincerest apologies.

As atonement, I have compiled a survival guide to help you cope with these Dog Days of Summer. To keep things simple (and inexpensive), all products can be found at Target.

Personally, I'd like to forget about clothing altogether, at this point, but I think the people I work with would appreciate if I stayed as covered up as humanly possible. This little white dress is a fair alternative to going full-out Lady Godiva.

I like that it's 100% cotton, so it breathes, and the design is airy, but covered up and dressy enough that you could wear it to work in a casual office setting. A word of caution, though: reviewers have mentioned that it is a bit on the sheer side (so be careful of your undergarments, ladies), and that you might want to skip putting it in the dryer. They've also mentioned quality construction, comparable to Forever 21. Mossimo, $15.38, Target.com.

There have been days when it was too hot to even wear flip-flops, but shoes are pretty much a necessity in civilized society. Might I suggest a pair like these? First off, they're dressy/casual, so they're versatile. Secondly, the cork is absorbant, which...well, let's face it: feet sweat. I'd rather not slosh around in my shoes, thank you very much. Cork is also very soft and tends to mold to your foot for comfort. Mossimo, $12.99, Target.com.

I'm actually carrying this purse right now. I've had it for about three months, and love it. It's roomy enough to carry what you need, but small enough that you can't fill it with the entire contents of Mary Poppins Carpet Bag. The cotton construction allows the purse (and what's inside it) to breathe, keeping your stuff from getting too hot. It's also washable, durable, and cute as pie. Available in several colors and patterns. Merona, $7.00 (really!!), Target.com.

Please remember sunscreen!! Around here, burn times run about ten minutes. Really, I don't care what brand you use--if it's sports, kids, spray, lotion, or purple--just use something! Sunburns suck, but skin cancer is so much worse. Neutrogena, $9.94, Target.com.

I don't know about you, but lotion melts off my legs, these days. I still need something to keep them moisturized (sweat doesn't count), and this light body mist is just the thing. Put out by Soap & Glory, Girligo is a non-greasy spray moisturizer that leaves your skin silky smooth and freshly scented. I'm also in love with the retro packaging. Soap & Glory, $11.99, Target.com.

Last, but not least, let's put on a little color without worrying about it melting in the car. CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain is, well, just what it says it is. It's a long-wearing lipstain. What's cool about it is that it comes in a marker form--sort of like a Sharpie for your face. Also, unlike many lipstains, it's moisturizing, so you don't end up with flaky lips, or need to carry around a separate lip balm or gloss to put over it. CoverGirl, $7.89, Target.com.

There. We can all "glow" instead of "puddle". Now, maybe Al Gore will get off my back. Again, sorry.

*Photos by Target

But Will it Cook Me Dinner and Do My Taxes?

Photo by Uber-Luxe

This purse is $109,500.00. Yeah. You read that right. This purse is worth more than six (6) times the price of my car. I could get up on my soap box right now and talk about how that is a criminally insane amount of money to spend on an accessory; how there are starving children and homeless puppies, or that money could be better spent fixing the oil leak, or whathaveyou. Or that you shouldn't measure your worth (or anyone else's) by a handbag, coffee cup, or mode of transportation, but I won't. I will say this: Perspective, people. Get some.

Also this: it sure is cute.

I was relatively unaware of this handbag. Aside from knowing some useless Gilmore Girls trivia about Rory receiving a bag from Logan, I knew nothing about the brand (Hermes), the style (Birkin), or the price range (whoa, Nelly!), and really, my life was no worse off. I only came across it by accident while looking up stuff for the post on my bird. I typed BIRD into Google, and BIRKIN popped up. Whoops.

Since then, I've been fascinated by the bag and its mystique. A book was even written about getting on the waiting list for one. People go crazy for this thing.

It sure is cute.

So, with that, whether you're like me and think it's cute, but would never in a million years spend that kind of money on a purse; or your life will be incomplete until you own a Birkin bag of your very own, here are some options:

Photo by Princess Purse

Photo by Luxevoute

This is a reasonable alternative to the gold Hermes bag. Please note: This is not a sketchy knock-off. Hermes is not losing any money because someone bought this believing it to be a true Birkin, nor was it made illegally. It is a designer-inspired look, but not a direct copy. Nowhere on the bag is a Hermes logo. It's a similar style so that a Birkin fan could be happy carrying it to the coffee shop, and at $19.50, still be able to afford the coffee. You could buy 5,615 of this purse for one of the purse at the top of the post. Just sayin'. Okay, this is a real Birkin. It's on clearance for $1,195.00 If you have that and want to spend it on a purse, more power to you. Here it is.

Photo by Jacco Fashion

This would be my personal favorite of the group. I'm sorry I couldn't find a bigger picture of this, but my computer is being fussy. Who knows, one day I may treat myself to this bag. I always like to buy a good, new handbag in the Fall. This could be that bag. At $63.99, it's a little more than I usually go, but nowhere near $1,195.00. They're not identical--and they shouldn't be--but it's close enough that I can tote a cute, stylish bag, sans mortgage.

So, there you go. Links to the real ones, links to the similar bags, links all around. But if you blow your inheritance on that top bag, don't blame me. It sure is cute, though.