Tag: lists

Metamorphosis 126.0 – Indie Top 10 Love-List!

I was tagged by the super-sweet swatch superstar Luna of Toxid-Lotus to make a list of my 10 favourite Indie companies. In no particular order, here are my picks:

Between Detrivore Cosmetics‘ eyeshadows and blushes, they occupy an entire drawer of my makeup collection. Even if you don’t dig the slightly morbid, creepy names like I do, there’s something there for everyone: neutrals, brights, mattes, satins, all with the same beautifully blending, easy-applying formula. In the last month, they’ve not only released twenty stunning new shades, but also an entire fragrance collection with the same dark, spooky influence.

Morgana Cryptoria has become a one-stop shop for all lipcolour needs: whether you want a sheer coat of shimmer, a bold, bright cream, or a gleaming gloss, this company has lip products down to science. If I want a new shade or need to replace an old favourite, Morgana has so many colours and formulas that I’m guaranteed to find something to fit the bill. There are beautiful shadows and veils available, as well as Jerome Russell, Special Effects, and Manic Panic hair dyes.

There isn’t a makeup-wearing day that I don’t use an Evil Shades Spectrum Pot on my eyes. It’s my go-to primer and lasts throughout my long, busy days. They’re great, sticky bases for glittery shades and come in every colour necessary to accent brights, neutrals, and darks alike. In addition to the general catalog, Evil Shades puts out some awesome collections (Zombies, anyone?) including eyeshadows, lipsticks, and glosses.

Darling Girl Cosmetics has one of the most extensive catalogs I’ve ever seen, but there’s one product that really stands out amongst my makeup collection: Glitter Glue. Just the tiniest bit amps up any shadow and really holds down glittery shades like nothing else. A little bit goes a really long way–I’m still working on my first tube, but I definitely know I’ll be back for more!

I pretty much live in One Hand Washes the Other perfumes. Not only are they handy (they come in oil and solid forms–great for dabbing on at home and slipping into a purse for touch-ups), but they smell amazing–I’ve gotten so many compliments on their unique and interesting blends. While I’m still loving the Halloween releases (Santa Muerte and Burning Times practically live in my purse), the new winter scents just went up and I’m pretty sure I need two or four or ten.

No one does sparkling, glittering duochromes quite like Persephone Minerals. I was originally seduced by the Sailor Moon-inspired eyeshadow sets, but was completely won over by the Halloween release. I knew when the holiday shades went up, my wallet was doomed. If you’ve never used a Persephone shadow, you’re truly missing out: each shade is so complex and unique that it’s a marvel. After the Black Friday gift event, I’m completely hooked on the highlights and shimmers as well–I can’t resist a good shimmery highlight!

Meow Cosmetics could easily take hours to browse and oodles of cash–their super-sparkly shadows are expertly blended and apply like a dream, their blushes are soft and blendable, and they carry a full line of foundation in over 80 shades and 3 formulas. My only problem with them is their parade of new shades with each season and holiday: my wallet can’t take it!

Cocoa Pink is sort of a double-threat: they make some seriously good products and have some fabulous scent blends. For a lot of people, scent can make or break a hair product. Some of my favourite products smell sort of horrible and it definitely deters me from using them more often. But Cocoa Pink never poses that issue. Each product can be scented with any blend from their incredibly extensive list, including seasonals. My dry, fine hair loves the Shine+ and Junket Creme Conditioners, and the Ends with Benefits is both a fabulous hair perfume and leave-in moisturizer.

You’ve seen me post about Linnaeus Cosmetics fairly recently. While they’re not currently open, they’re too good to be forgotten during their hiatus: the shades are beautiful and well-formulated and they’re all animal themed. How often have you seen a parrot and wanted to steal its plumage for your eyes? Or a tropical fish with glittering scales that would make a beautiful evening look? Linnaeus Cosmetics makes that a possibility: past collections have included the Puna Flamingo, the Golden Lion Tamarin, and the Orchid Dottyback. I know I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2012!

Villainess was one of the first indie brands I fell into and I still find myself going back again and again. If you hurry over to the site now, you’ll find one of my all-time favourite scents: Mall Santa. I actually hoard Mall Santa Whipped! year-round, and right about now I love mixing it with Mudslide for the perfect cozy, winter scent. The products are well-formulated with something for everyone: scrubs both drier and moister, amazingly luxurious soaps, and moisturizers that aren’t too greasy and aren’t too thin. I have a feeling I won’t be able to escape the holiday season without placing an order.

What are some of your favourite Indie brands? Spread the love!

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 99.5 – Labors of Love Pt 2: Bath & Body

Monday, I shared with you some of my favourite Indie makeup products. But well before I discovered Indie makeup, I was buying Indie bath and body products.

I think it’s safe to say if you’ve been on the internet, you’ve heard of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. With an extensive catalog with inspirations from Lovecraft to Shakespeare to carnival sideshows, Black Phoenix Alchemy (affectionately BPAL) has an incredible variety of oil perfumes available. Above are two of my current favourites: Screeching Parrot is a boozy, fruity cocktail blend of apricot brandy, dark rum, pineapple, ginger, and grapefruit among its brightest notes. I’ve worn it to every outdoor party and holiday barbecue this summer. Brood XIX, released to celebrate the latest cicada brood, is a much more autumnal scent including almond, rice milk, sun-dried hay, and sticky-sweet tree sap. Unfortunately, these are both limited edition scents: Brood XIX is available until August 15th and Screeching Parrot is long gone. Bottles of BPAL often pop up on Ebay, but due to the cult following this company seems to have, expect some crazy aftermarket prices.

Villainess is among the many Indie B&B companies I found through the BPAL forums. In addition to their usual stock of soaps, moisturizers, scrubs, and perfume oils, Villainess releases several seasonal collections a year with recurring favourites as well as new, experimental blends. Shown above are Whipped! moisturizers in Mall Santa and Mudslide, two of my favourite holiday seasonals. I buy these in multiples so I have enough to last me all year. Mall Santa is a blend of frosted cinnamon buns, tobacco, whiskey, and toffee candy–despite all the foody notes, there’s something a little black and dirty about it, which makes it one of my all-time favourite scents. Mudslide, in the same vein, is strong, murky coffee, hazelnut, cream, sweet graham and vetiver. It’s definitely a bit hazelnut-latte-esque, but I wouldn’t want to drink it.

Perched atop you’ll see a few mini-jars of Mud, a kaolin-based powdered face mask. I love the convenience of these easy to store, easy to use masks: just add a teaspoon or so of warm water until you make a thick paste. I get three to four uses out of the mini-jars, though the site recommends them as single-use. Large jars contain 2oz, though I’m not sure how many uses they contain. Here, you see Blush and Crushed, skin-brightening berry masks, and spicy Dulces en Fuego rejuvenating rhassoul mask.

One Hand Washes the Other is probably most famous for its Black Magic facial soap. I, however, have fallen madly in love with these Private Stock perfume blends. Let Them Eat Cake is another of my beloved not-quite-foody scents, featuring rose and sweet pea over white chocolate ganache and, of course, cake. This is not your typical yellow-birthday-cake scent: to me, this almost reads as a dusty cocoa red velvet with delicate candied rose embellishments. Mermaid is a summer limited with salt water, driftwood, oakmoss, and a variety of soft florals. It’s the perfect scent for those days when the heat index rises over 100F. The solid scent sample here, Bitten, is going to be perfect for fall: apple and black pepper with just a hint of stormy rain.

I’ve discussed Cocoa Pink previously in my review of their Black Chocolate scent. This is really just a small selection of products I’ve collected from them. Princess Poo is one of two SLS-free shampoo formulas, the more gentle and moisturizing of the pair and perfect for colour-treated hair like mine. If you look closely at the label, you can actually see it streaked with blue where my hair has stained it. The pink colour is not, in fact, a dye, but a reaction between the scent oils (here in Marshmallow, one of their most popular blends) that does not stain my porous platinum hair. Shine + is my favourite of their 5 conditioner formulas. Cocoa Pink realizes that hair is not a one-size-fits-all business and offers different conditioners for the purpose. Shine + is protein and silicone free for dry, brittle hair that is also fine and prone to being weighed down. I normally like a bit of protein in my conditioners, but Shine + leaves my hair incredibly shiny and smooth–no easy task, I can assure you! This is a sample size in Violet Pixie-Dust (a blend of sugared violets with bright summer fruits), but my next order is definitely going to include a full size.

I will admit, I’ve been working on this bottle of Anti-Frizz for almost a year. Described as a styling serum with anti-thermal protection, I really only use this when I blow-dry or heat style my hair which is incredibly infrequent. Back when my hair was longer, I would comb a bit of this through and then set it in curlers: the Anti-Frizz would act like a setting lotion, assuring my curls could be brushed through the next day without losing any of the volume or bounce I had worked so hard to achieve. Shown here in Sunkissed Clouds, this leaves my hair smelling like blood oranges and mandarin with hints of marshmallow and cream.

Ends  With Benefits is one of my can’t-live-without products. Originally formulated as a hair perfume, the oils and vitamins included act as an amazing leave-in conditioner. I probably have twenty bottles of this around my house in various scents–this is Blood Orange Cotton Candy, which pairs perfectly with my Anti-Frizz in Sunkissed Clouds. One of the most impressive things about Ends with Benefits, however, is its staying power–if I spray this in my hair after a shower, I’ll be able to smell it all day. If I go to the gym the next day, I’ll be able to smell it throughout my workout. If I go to the salon and get my hair cut, my stylist can smell it while blow-drying my hair. Something about the formula seems to be heat- or moisture-activated, renewing the scent when the scalp is damp or hot.

Finally, the little black clamshell contains a sample of Coco-Mango Body Butter, a shea-free formula for the latex-sensitive. It’s my favourite of their moisturizer formulas, being lighter and less rich than their shea-heavy Voluptious Body Butter. Additionally, Cocoa Pink is registered as cruelty-free with PETA and labels vegan products on their website.

These whimsical little ticketed vials are from Darling Clandestine. These fragrances are inspired by Circus and Side Show elements, my favourites being Fire Eater, a woodsy black-pepper blend, and Ballyhoo, an exotic spicy-sweet scent reminiscent of chai. This shop has some of the most intriguing, romantic scent descriptions I have ever read, which definitely adds to the intrigue of these perfumes.

Friday, I’ll be posting an all-Indie FotD–if you’ve posted your own Indie love-list or spotlight, let me know! I’ll be doing a link round-up and want to link to your posts!

Don’t forget–if you’re a GFC follower, you’ll be able to take part in upcoming giveaways. Later in the month, I plan on giving you the opportunity to WIN some of these amazing products for yourself–you won’t want to miss it!

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 99.0 – Labors of Love, an Independent Love-List!

There’s been a certain anti-Indie sentiment the last few days which saddens me deeply. Sure, I shop big brands–Sephora and MAC are still a wonderland of colours and glitter for me–but I really love the Indie makeup community. Sure, there are some bad eggs in the bunch, but is that reason enough to avoid everything? For every miseducated and unprofessional owner, there are four who know their formulas and ingredients inside and out and really work to make sure their customers are happy. You don’t get that level of service with big brands, and anyone who’s ever shopped indie can tell you the same thing. At the head of each indie company, there is an individual. They recognize that each consumer is also an individual. There is no need to boycott all indie companies just because you have a bad experience with one.

Today, I want to show you some great products from some equally amazing indie companies. You may have seen some of these before, some of them are brand new, but I can whole-heartedly endorse the products themselves and the companies that produce them.

I honestly can’t believe I haven’t written up an official review of Evil Shades yet. They carry a broad range of products, mostly represented above: shadows, blushes, lipstick, glosses, even primers.

I received Love Bites blush as a sample with one of my orders and used it up within days. I never do that. I obviously ordered a full size. You can see it’s a very unique shade of creamsicle-orange pink, but what you can’t really see is that when this finely milled powder blush blends out, it has an amazing soft-green sheen to it.

If you’ve ever read this blog, you probably know what a lipstick junkie I am. Evil Shades has several lip formulas, all quite different–there’s guaranteed to be one you’ll like. Above, you see Hardcore Lips in Not Your Barbie–a hot hot pink liquid lipstick–and Deviant Lipstick  in Ardour–a bright orange creme. There’s an incredibly number of shades available in each formula, both “wearable” and more daring colours, but these two have been great summer shades.

Obviously, there is eyeshadow. I first showed you Faerie Garden in my mint-green love-list this Spring, but its fresh-mint colour is no less gorgeous in the summer. On the right, you see one of the new Spectrum Pots, a sort of hybrid creme-shadow/coloured primer for eyes. It’s shown in Nano Yellow, considering how dearly I loved yellow eyes this summer. It’s gorgeous on its own, but I layered it with some pretty yellow and gold shades to really make my looks pop–best part? Absolutely no creasing, even when the weather was a humid 90+F.

Meow Cosmetics has some really amazing products. They only sell complexion products and eyeshadows (no lip colour for now), but what they do they do damn well. For an indie brand, they can be a bit on the pricey side but they run many good sales and their products are quite a value considering what you get. Above, you see my holy-grail foundation and several truly amazing shadows.

If you’ve ever had problems matching foundation shades, let me tell you that Meow has over 80 shades in 3 different formulas. Shown above is my perfect Summer foundation, Frisky Korat (3rd intensity golden-beige) in their Pampered Puss formula: a light-to-medium coverage foundation for sensitive skin. I’m pretty fair, and this is a third intensity level. Meaning all you porcelain-skinned ladies can find a match no problem. They also make a white powder mix-in (aptly named Snow Leopard) to lighten existing shades for a better match. Before buying a full size (above is a mini-sized jar) you can purchase samples to make sure the shade is right for you.

Wow, right? These are just a handful of the Meow shadows I’ve collected. Whether you prefer mattes, shimmers, metallics, or satins, Meow has a shade in a finish you’ll enjoy. Pictured here are some of my favourites: the metallic gold Hieroglyph from the Egyptian Treasures collection, shimmering navy One Night Stand, blackened-purple Midnight Feast, and deep wine red Those Heels all from the Guilty Pleasures collection. Meow shadows are priced differently per collection but each one is well worth the price–if you’re hesitant or simply want to try a colour first, they also sell sample baggies. Make sure, however, that the collection you’re eying isn’t limited–it might slip away before your samples arrive! They do ship quickly, but some of their collections are only available for a week at a time.

I’ve posted a full review of Morgana Cryptoria, but I’ve since made a few more purchases. Morgana Cryptoria carries an obviously wide range of shades, from wearable pinks and peaches to bold reds and fuschias to wild blues and greens and blacks. Pictured above are vegan lipsticks in Gilded Brown, a dark chocolate-brown with metallic gold shimmer, and Peach Daqueri, a pastel pinky-peach. The balms are brand new, featured here in Nevermore, a deep mauvey wine-pink, and Cleopatra’s Demise, a dark, rich green. I’ll have lip swatches for you soon, but I’ve found myself reaching for these day in and day out (as you can probably see from the rim of Nevermore).

I’ve featured these shades before in reviews and monthly picks, but I can’t help throwing them in again. I get so much use from these shades that I simply couldn’t leave them out. Linnaeus Cosmetics‘ Largo is a bright blue inspired by the Hyacinth Macaw and a perfect aquatic summer shade. If you have not all ready visited this shop, you simply have to: the owner bases all her shades off animals to spread awareness of some of the magnificent creatures sharing our Earth. She has a ton of new collections up with such unique inspiration as the Axolotl, the Orchid Dottyback, and my personal favourite, the Echidna.

This metallic antique gold (appropriately named Versailles) is from Antoinette’s Revolution Cosmetics, which I have also previously reviewed. This is one of the most interesting and complex shades I have ever used, which seems to be par for the course–if you take a look around her shop, you’ll see that her decadent French Rococo-inspired shades are never quite what they appear at first glance. There’s always an added depth, a surprise sparkle, or an unexpected boldness that makes her products beautiful to wear and fun to use.

Plague, this sparkling blackened green, is one of my go-to shades for the perfect smokey eye. Detrivore seems to specialize in cosmetics for those with a darker aesthetic, featuring deep, murky hues for eyes, blood-red blushes, and an assortment of perfect highlighting powders. I have quite a number of these shadows which may be why I haven’t yet done an official review–there’s so much to swatch! Also on the site is a primer, which I have not personally tried but have heard many rave reviews for.

I’ve posted about Brazen Cosmetics‘ lip glosses before, but this gorgeous plum-burgundy with holographic blue glitter is a limited shade, Delusional. I knew the instant I saw it that I couldn’t let it get away. Applied sheer, it’s the perfect just-bitten lipcolour I often crave for everyday looks, but applied heavier it’s a deep vampy lip with some serious personality. Like my other Brazen glosses, it has a distinct vanilla scent much like MAC lipsticks and stays on forever with minimal need for touch-ups.

I am a sucker for product names, so when I saw this rose-gold gloss called Only Forever, it was mine. Hi-Fi Cosmetics actually has an entire Labyrinth-inspired collection featuring two glosses and a number of absolutely beautiful eyeshadows. An official review is forthcoming because again, I have SO many colours to swatch! If you’re looking for a beautiful summer gold, this might be just what you’re looking for.

You can also look back at some of my reviews to see some of the other companies I’ve purchased from in the past.

Wednesday, I’ll show you some of my favourite bath and body products from indie brands including moisturizers, perfumes, and hair products.

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 96.0 – July Monthly Picks!

It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that it’s the end of July. On one hand, I feel like the summer only just began, but on the other I feel like we’ve all ready begun the fall season. Given our recent heat wave this probably sounds ridiculous, but I live on the cosmetics calender and Fall collections are coming out left and right now. Some of them have been out for what feels like ages. That said, maybe my July picks won’t surprise you.

Metallic golds and red lips dominated my look again this month, which are not just summer-friendly but also completely “wearable” and work-ready.

The Lorac TANtalEYES Palette became a go-to product for me this month between summer barbecues, work schedules, and my never-ending search for the perfect metallics. The shadows themselves are well-pigmented, sparkling, unique shades that blend effortlessly. Normally, I’ll use the gold shade all over the lid with the garnet shade on the outer corner, the olive in the crease, and the white-gold shade on the brow and inner corner.

If someone asked me what luxury would be like if it was manifest in a single product, I’d say it was Chanel‘s Joues Contraste blush in Or. This soft powder blush is the perfect glittering gold highlight lightly scented with rose perfume. I could honestly sit there and sniff this blush all day–it doesn’t linger after application, but it’s enough to get a whiff upon opening the sleek black compact.

When I got Urban Decay‘s 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Sabbath, I honestly didn’t think I’d be getting much use out of it. I’ve never been too big on navy eyeliner, especially not as a substitute for black. But I’ve found myself reaching for it over and over again. Maybe that’s because Sabbath is such a rich, inky blue that I don’t think of it as a compromise to my long-loved blacks while being soft enough that it’s the perfect compliment to a neutral, bronzed eye. Meanwhile, the Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color pencil in F-Bomb is such a classic red that it works with just about every look. Since the formula is so stellar, I can apply it in the morning and not worry about fading or touching-up until the very end of my day.

Butter London‘s West End Wonderland is like fireworks in a bottle. The varied shades of gold glitter make it an incredible shade–dynamic and fun, but still wearable and not too over-the-top. It’s glitter for every day life. Like all glitters, it’s a little annoying to get off, but like all Butter London polishes, I can get a week plus out of this without too much wear.

With all the Fall collections surfacing, I’m curious to see what direction I’ll be taking as we head into the last stretch of summer. All ready, I’m intrigued by some dusky silvers, nude lips, and taupe shades that are starting to grace counters. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying my metallics and reds.

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 85.0 – June Monthly Picks!

As I gathered up my picks this month and spread them out for photographs I thought, “No one will believe these were my picks for June. August, maybe. October, definitely. But June? Never!” But these really were my June loves, so much so that many of them were plucked directly from my “everyday” bag and my purse, and went right back in afterward. June was a month of smokey green eyes, dark wine-stained lips, and metallics everywhere. I honestly can’t believe I didn’t snap at least a picture of these looks considering I was making up occasions to wear them.

I think it started with Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Ivy Shimmer Ink. It’s such a beautiful deep emerald colour and applies well as a basic eyeliner–but I loved it so much, I found myself applying it rather thick, smudging it around the eye, and then setting it with Detrivore Eyeshadow in Plague–a beautiful blackened green shimmer. Depending on the occasion, I like to add a splash of Detrivore‘s Vitriol and Antoinette’s Revolution‘s Versailles.

I ordered OCC Lip Tar in Vintage over Memorial Day after deeply regretting letting it go at the Makeup Show. It’s perfect for layering MAC Lipstick in Hang-Up, which is a bit sheer on its own. Together, they make the perfect vampy, wine-red lip. I also fell in love with Morgana Cryptoria Vegan Lipstick in Gilded Brown, which I had ordered for a specific event and sort of forget about afterward. Turns out, it’s the perfect antiqued gold. (I’ll post a look with it later in the week!)

There are some products that recur on this list each month: OCC Lip Tar, and Zoya Nail Polish. This month, I unintentionally fell in love with Isla. Honestly, I don’t really do red nails. I feel like red (and pink) make my hands look stumpy, which is probably silly because I’ve got some massive hands with some super-long fingers. It’s actually kind of freaky. But I couldn’t resist this colour when I saw it online (where it looks more black with red shift–it’s all metallic burgundy in person!) and found that I can actually work with it. Actually, I’m sort of in love with it. The MAC Blush in Fever was ordered during my search for the perfect blood red–it doesn’t really fit that bill, but it looks great with my current go-to deep lipcolours!

And that was June. Considering May was all summery corals and June is all smoke and wine, I honestly have no clue where July will bring me!

What have you loved this month? Have you noticed any recurring themes or colour palettes?

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 79.0 – May Monthly Picks!

May was considerably harder to settle on than any month previously, perhaps because my out-of-commission camera forced me to be later on this post than usual. Things started to blur together–did I start loving these products in May, or early June? Did I even get this in May? Or am I mistaking June for May since I keep writing “5/?/11″ on all checks at work?

But after much consideration, I’ve narrowed it to these selections which I enjoyed throughout most of the month. I haven’t included face or complexion products since otherwise, this list would be a boring beige-coloured wasteland (my picks would have undoubtedly been OCC Tint, Bobbi Brown Corrector and Creamy Concealer, Bobbi Brown Pressed Powder, and Lamas Beauty Eye Repair Complex–boring to look at, right?) and it’s much more interesting to see the Sea of Coral I’ve lived in this May.

It probably all started with Zoya Nail Polish in Elodie. On the website, it looks like a soft, almost pastel melon shade but as you see, it’s really a vibrant coral-orange. It’s a gorgeous, fun shade that applies creamy and opaque in about three coats (I use many much thinner coats to avoid bubbling and “VNL”–visible nail line–so it should only take normal people three coats to achieve perfection). I also discovered creme blush (finally!) and fell head over heels for Bobbi Brown Pot Rogue in Cabo Coral. Applied to my skin or foundation pre-powder, it blends to a very pretty peachy coral. It appears rather intense but after it’s been set it’s quite subtle–best of all the colour is completely buildable! It’s also lip-safe and can be used as lipstick in a pinch.

I wore this Inglot palette Monday through Friday for most of May. It’s neutral, it’s versatile–I can use the two beiges and the taupey grey for a very clean, neutral eye or have at the greys for a graduated smokey effect. This doesn’t mean I’ll never wear red eyeshadow to the office again, but it does give me a work-friendly option.

I know that OCC Lip Tar made it’s way onto the list last month, too, but this time it’s Interlace. It is hands-down the perfect nude in my collection and makes any look instantly more chic. I like to apply it lightly, blot off any excess, and set it with a clear or nude gloss (like BITE’s Prosecco or MAC Cremesheen Glass in Lightly Prancing). Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss in Citrus was my go-to gloss this month, living exclusively in my purse and swiped on almost every day. It’s a beautiful peachy-orange shimmer in a clear base and while it’s on the stickier side, it is the longest-wearing gloss I have ever owned. I have swiped it on at 9AM only to find my lips are still shimmery and a little tacky at 7PM when I’m driving home. Considering my lips are on the drier side, I find it highly moisturizing.

And last but not least, the product that has everyone and their mother talking, Make Up Forever Aqua Liners in 10 Iridescent Red and 04 Diamond Lagoon Green. I know, everyone has raved about them to no end but honestly they’re that great. They don’t budge for DAYS if not properly removed and they come in such a variety of bold, powerful colours they really are perfect for the bright eyeliner trend that’s been so hot this season. Of the 16 shades available, I scored 10 for 50% off at the Makeup Show. If you don’t get them with a pro discount or show special, they’re a bit pricey at $23 a piece. But I would have paid it anyway–the formula and applicator remind me a bit of MAC’s Superslick liners, but thicker and with a longer felt tip “brush.” Personally, I wish these had an actual brush and a shorter top for application, but I love them anyway. In May, the green was pretty much my everyday liner shade, while the red was for those days I really needed a pop of colour to get me through the day.

And there you have it. My May was a bright blur of corals, not quite Spring but not quiteSummer either. What products did you love in May? Have you made the jump to your Summer look yet, or are you still clinging to Spring?

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 65.0 – April Monthly Picks!

Wow! April was a major haul month, between the IMATS, Beautylish event, and Sephora sale, I’ve had a lot of new things to try out and play with. But there have been a few things that I’ve come back to again and again this month–here’s what I’m loving:

I managed to snag a 20 palette from Inglot at the IMATS for a pretty impressive discount, but even at full-price, this would probably rank amongst my best beauty buys of all time. These shadows are buttery, blendable, and amazingly pigmented all in the convenience of a palette. I don’t travel often, but this would definitely be a go-to item for future trips–such beautiful colours all in one place! I also got my hands on quite a number of OCC Lip Tars at that show, and Anime has quickly become one of my favourite lip colours. It’s a bright, bold neon pink that dries matte and stays on my lips for almost 9 hours at a time, even through food and drink!

After thoroughly loving theBalm blush I received from Beautylish, I purchased Mary Lou-Manizer during the Sephora %15 Off Sale. The texture of these products is just amazing for pressed powders–they’re soft and blendable, but not at all dusty. The luminizer is a beautiful shade of pale-golden beige that’s just right for highlighting my skintone. I also grabbed Korres Wild Rose Mask during the Sephora sale after reading up on the benefits of rose for complexion-brightening. I’ve only used this mask twice now, but it’s an absolutely luxurious experience–not only does it smell amazing and leave my skin feeling soft and moisturized, I swear my skin glows after using it.

Anyone who follows my Twitter feed knows how badly I’ve been dying to try butter LONDON. Lucky for me, my local Ulta started carrying their line and my ever-wonderful, amazingly attentive mother picked these up for me. I have a full review forthcoming, but I’ve been wearing this combo for a few days now and it is by far the shiniest, smoothest, most luxurious polishes I own. This colour, Blagger, was definitely on my list, but I likely wouldn’t have gotten the top and base coats simply because I all ready have so many–but I’m glad I did try them, because I really don’t have anything comparable! The top coat is impossibly shiny and the base coat is a creamy beige that dries matte, giving the polish a nice surface to adhere to. After five days of intense typing, working out, hand-washing, and my own personal nailbiting/picking habit, this remains chip-free and gorgeous. I think I’ve found my Holy Grail nail system!

What have you been loving this month?

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 52.0 – Creme de Menthe, a minty-green love list!

Every few weeks or so, I come down with some sort of colour-bug. Certain colours stick in my head and I just can’t get enough of them. These past few weeks it’s been mint green. In all honesty, mint has always been one of my favourite colours. I think my synesthesia is partially to blame, but the creamy, soft texture of mint has always struck a chord with me. (In fact, “Menthe” was an early web-moniker of mine.) But for Spring, it’s really hard for me to pin-point a better colour: it’s fresh, it’s delicate, and it goes well with everything. Lately, I’ve been pairing it with lilacs and corals.

Here are some of my favourite mint-coloured products at the moment. Full reviews of these products are forthcoming, I promise!

Shiro Cosmetics‘ Kawaii Shadow in Banzai is a very pale mint green with strong blue tones. The satin texture makes it perfect for highlighting or as a base for darker shadows. It’s fairly opaque on its own though it can be built up or blended out. I’ve been using this in the inner corners of my eyes for a bright pop of minty colour!

Evil Shades‘ Faerie Garden is a slightly darker green, more of a fresh mint than a creme-de-menthe. On site, it’s described as “primary green with golden shimmer,” but I’d say it’s a slightly blue-toned green with a shimmery finish. I usually pat this on my lid with a flat brush for a sweet, herbal green base.

I’ve really never been a body-shimmer type of girl, but I’ve really been loving Meow Cosmetics‘ Wildcats powder in Jungle Cat. I was obviously hesitant when I ordered a green body-powder, but it blends beautifully to the barest, palest minty sparkle. Like mint frosting for your skin! I use a large, flexible Taklon kabuki brush to dust this powder over my chest, shoulders, cheekbones, and brows for a very subtle highlighting effect. (It also works nicely mixed into a pump of body lotion or sunblock!)

I have to admit, I haven’t yet had a chance to wear Lime Crime‘s Mint to Be lipstick out of the house yet! Of course as soon as it arrived, I ripped it open and slathered it on, but I just haven’t had an appropriate occasion for it otherwise. Like most of the reformulated Lime Crime lipsticks, this is perfectly opaque and creamy when properly applied. I suggest covering your natural lip colour for truest-green results.

For a little bit of not-quite-swatchy fun, this is a shot of my pigment-encrusted hand after opening up and fiddling with all the jars for these shots. You can see quite a bit of Jungle Cat on my fingers and a bit of Faerie Garden on my palm.

Obviously, wearing all these beautiful minty products together might be a little green-overkill. As I said above, they pair beautifully with lilacs and lavenders (like Sugarpill’s Paperdoll or Weekender), peaches and corals (like Morgana Cryptoria’s Peach Daiquiri and Evil Shade’s Faerie Kisses), even bubblegum pinks (like Sugarpill’s Birthday Girl).

What colours are you loving for Spring?

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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Metamorphosis 50.0 – March Monthly Picks!

I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to do a sort of product feature. Weekly seemed kind of ridiculous, and seasonal seemed too infrequent, so monthly sounds good. I’ve got thirty-odd days to think up new features, and that’s perfect.

This month, my picks are all products I got in March. I’m not sure if that will always be the case, but this month it certainly is. When I get new products, I tend to test out every aspect of their usage especially if I’m reviewing them so I get really attached to a lot of products.

My first pick is Wylde Ivy‘s Silken Body Oil in Little Shop in Salem. It’s like a nifty little moisturizing perfume that goes on smooth, soaks in quickly, and leaves you smelling wonderful all day. The oil itself is made from a combination of Coconut and Jojoba oils with addition oils from various fruit seeds. I particularly like it in this scent because it’s a light incense-y blend that’s sweet and a little dusty and layers perfectly will all sorts of other fragrances. Plus, it doesn’t give me (or anyone else around me) a headache after too long, as most fragrances often do.

Zoya Nail Polish in Dannii is a soft pink-purple with an amazing multi-coloured sparkle. I’m always amazed by the depth of colour in Zoya polishes, which is why they’re my favourite hands-down. This particular colour is great for spring–it reminds me of newly-budding flowers.

For some reason, I was all about the metallic eyes this month. Meow Cosmetics‘ Heiroglyph from the Egyptian Treasures Collection was definitely one of my go-to shadows. It’s described on-site as “metallic chartreuse with verdigris overtones and metallic gold undertones,” but I see it as a darkened, antiqued gold.

You’ve seen how beautiful Brazen‘s Cherry Bomb lip gloss is. If you haven’t, go read my review right now. It’s richly pigmented but still layerable, it’s smooth and creamy, and it stays put for hours. I haven’t seen this listed in the shop yet (which is live again after a brief hiatus!), but the owner is always more than happy to do custom listings if something you want is “out of stock.”

I’ve never been a blush girl, but lately I seem to be obsessed! The more unusual, the more shimmery, pigmented, sparkling, or complex the colour, the more I love it. Meow Cosmetics’ PINK, Inc blushes are really gorgeous. They apply like a dream, they’re incredibly blendable, and they have just the barest hint of shimmer that really bring them to life. My favourite is definitely Slip. On site, it’s described as “bright warm coral PINK with a slight refreshing twist of citrus peach,” but it definitely reads as a light coral-y peach. I ordered it in the 10g size, though I sort of feel like I should have gotten the larger jar.

–and there you have it! Five items I fell absolutely head-over-heels for this month. Also, all $10USD or less.

What have you been loving this month? Products, foods, music, websites, events?

Love you to the Moon and Back,

Luna Valentine

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