Beauties in Bloom

I took a quick picture on my iphone so I could show you the lovely Zoya Kotori! This color is AMAZING--a sparkling jewel toned blue/teal. Sorry for the iphone quality image! Took it on the go :) Sorry, I have really ugly nails! My only problem with Kotori is that it is actually quite sheer for the first two coats. Three coats (which is what I used in the photo) is perfection. I would assume that you could get away with one or two coats if you paint Kotori over a black nail polish though. The staying power was excellent, I didn't experience any chipping until day 5 or 6! Feel free to check out the Share the Love program Zoya has and more importantly, all the Zoya nail polish swatches I've posted in this post HERE ! I'm usually not a blue nail person but Kotori has really won me over! What do you think?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! New Years Eve is typically a night where everyone goes all out with gold and silver and glitter! I figured I'd use this night to use eyeshadow colors that I don't wear very often: blue!! I'm usually a bit uncomfortable with blue all over the eyes, so I softened it by using more silvery-blue on the lids. I really hope you like this look!! I paired this one with a nude lip (Mac Creme D'Nude) but I also feel like this would have been worked well with a berry lip! Next time ;) Urban Decay Strip on lid, Bare Escentuals Nude Beach on inner corner, theBalm Southern Belle in outer-v, Nars Pandora in Outer-v, Mac Shroom to highlight, & Wet N Wild Blue over bb gel eyeliner! Products: Face: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Laura Mercier Translucent powder Reviva Labs Make Up Primer Bobbi Brown Corrector TooFaced Chocolate Soleil Mac Petticoat Mineralized Skinfinish Anastasia Brow Powder in Brunette Eyes: Nars Sm...

I am just loving this palette. Brain surgeon is probably my favorite color from the palette (like many, i am a total sucker for gorgeous purple eyeshadow!), so I couldn't help but include it again. I promise look #3 will use more of the colors!! ;) "policeman" on inner corner, "southern belle" on lid, "brain surgeon" in outer-v and crease, nars pandora (black) in outer-v and tiny bit of "stock broker" to highlight browbone this is more accurate of how "southern belle" looks on the lid! it's a medium/darkish blue.  please excuse the messy hair! just showered! flash washed me out a bit too.   Products: Face: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Nude & Sand (mixed) Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Laura Mercier Translucent powder TooFaced Chocolate Soleil Rock & Republic Bedroom Blush theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Anastasia Brow Powder in Brunette Eyes: Mac Bare Study Paint Pot theBalm "brai...

Decided to try a look with the Blue Had Me At Hello palette and it turned into an effortless navy/gray smokey eye. It definitely looks more blue in person, sadly I couldn't capture the blue sparkles on camera (need to start taking pictures in natural light!) Products Used: Wet N Wild 8 pan blue had me at hello: right hand browbone on inner corner, right hand crease color on lid and crease, left hand crease on outer v, and then the right hand definer to deepen the outer v! Mac wedge (to help blend out the edges) Urban Decay 24/7 black eyeliner pencil Anastasia brow powder duo Covergirl lashblast From the pictures, it looks like the blue sparkles really stuck to the black eyeliner near my upper lashline, so i might try using that as a base next time to make the blue show up better. Eyeshadows applied and blended beautifully, I'm so glad I picked this palette up.

Hope these were swatches were helpful! I would definitely recommend this palette...based on swatching and wearing a few colors today, they are really wonderful quality for drugstore eyeshadow. Over my mac pain pot, I didn't experience ANY creasing. The colors are very, very smooth. I will admit I can be a bit of an eyeshadow snob (most of my eyeshadows are not drugstore),but these are very impressive and a similar quality for an amazing price tag! Definitely recommend! Let me know if you've picked up any of the palettes!