Nikki From HR

Update December 2025: I recently posted more swatches of the Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadows in shades Half Baked, Fazed, Overdraft, Dumb Luck, Ember, and Psych. You can see those and read my updated thoughts by clicking here.

Urban Decay recently revamped its eyeshadow formula and color range to release an all vegan lineup. They retail for $19.00 and come in 25 shades. For comparison, NARS Singles are also $19.00, MAC single shadows (in a compact) range from $18.00 to $22.00, and Lancome singles are $22.00. I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t mind buying singles shades, even at this price point and higher. With palettes, it is very common for me to have shades I either would never use or can’t use because they are too light. I personally find value in being able to get one shade that I really enjoy and will use. If you don’t see the value in single shadows in compacts, I get that, but I did want to point out that they are priced competitively against other eyeshadow prices.

Now, whether or not they perform as well as the NARS, MAC, and Lancome singles is another story. Let’s take a look at some swatches and I’ll give you my thoughts.

Continue reading “Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow (Charged and Fazed Swatches)” →

Wanderlust is a universal feeling that is a longing for something. We see new products that we like the look or concept of, we know they aren’t for us, and still, we consider them anyway. Sometimes we go so far as to buy them, despite having something similar or knowing we won’t use them.

The wanderlust list is my way of enjoying and using items I already own. I hope to encourage myself and others to use some of the products we have rather than being so quick to buy something new. If this concept interests you, you can check out the previous versions of the Wanderlust List below.

• The Wanderlust List #1 (Natasha Denona Bronze Palette)
• The Wanderlust List #2 (Uoma Black Magic Poise Palette)
• The Wanderlust List #3 (Becca Light Shifter Veil Finishing Powder)
• The Wanderlust List #4 (Sonia G Cheek Pro Brush)
• The Wanderlust List #6 (Gucci Glow Powder Gel Highlighter)

Disclaimer: As a beauty blogger, I have more makeup than a “regular” consumer. That does mean that I have more options to choose from when I’m opting out of a new purchase, but hopefully, the thought process can still help.

Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Brick, $58

If you are new here you may not know this, but I really love bronzers. It is not hard for me to get excited about a bronzer release, but I really got caught up in the luxury of this packaging. I checked out some reviews and everyone was raving about it and it did look nice applied. What almost sealed the deal was finally seeing a review on someone I quite often use for shade reference (The Fancy Face).

Continue reading “The Wanderlust List #5 (Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick)” →

Like many in the beauty community, I was very excited about this launch. Even though a lot of reviews started to get released the day I placed my order I decided not to watch or read any until I had the chance to try this blush for myself. I really just wanted to enjoy this product without any ideas of how it performs or doesn’t perform for other people. I also wanted to just use it like a “normal” makeup user without trying to review it at the same time. I received my package on Friday, May 28th and I didn’t waste any time, I started wearing it the next day. I ended up really happy I made that decision not to check reviews and just have fun with it.

I have really tested this out and tried it over different foundations and with different brushes, so this is by no means a first impression. I want to make that clear, not to hate on first impressions, but to point out that you can have different experiences working with something in different ways. Hopefully, I can explain my experiences well enough to help you make your own decision on whether or not this would be a good purchase for you personally.

Continue reading “Pat McGrath Divine Blush Review and Swatch (Paradise Venus)” →

After mentioning my favorite lipstick formulas in another post, I thought it would be nice to swatch any formulas or colors that I haven’t shared in the past. Today I’ll be sharing some Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Colors.

Bobbi Brown Bahama Brown

The Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Colors are richly pigmented and have a satin finish. I get my normal 4 hour wear time out of this formula. I am constantly drinking water and typically have at least a snack when I have on lipstick, so to me that is good for a cream formula. They are comfortable to wear but in comparison, they are not as creamy as the Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel formula.

Continue reading “Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Color Swatches (Bahama Brown, Downtown Plum, Pink Buff)” →

I noticed that the Sonia Kashuk Professional Brush Collection got a wardrobe update at some point and decided to try two of the powder brushes. I use and enjoy a few brushes from the current Essential Collection so I was expecting the same great quality. I purchased the medium and large powder brushes and the overall construction of these brushes is very nice. They feel sturdy and the synthetic hair is soft and gentle on the skin.

Medium Powder Brush, $20.00

This brush was the star of this order. For me, this is best for setting powder. It gives a nice coverage that isn’t too heavy. The shape is versatile for different application styles since you can use the side of the brush to pat the powder on for more coverage or use the fluffiness of the brush in more of a sweeping motion for lighter coverage. I have been able to use this brush for bronzer as well, but I do prefer how it performs with powder.

For size and shape comparison I have the medium powder brush pictured next to the Sigma F10, $25.00 and the elf flawless face brush ($6). The overall shape is the most similar to the elf brush, but the larger size does make it quicker for full face powder application. I use the Sigma brush for blush application, but it can be used for powder application so I wanted to include it since it does have a similar shape.

Continue reading “Sonia Kashuk Brushes/Target Haul” →

After mentioning my favorite lipstick formulas in another post, I thought it would be nice to swatch any formulas or colors that I haven’t shared in the past. Today I’ll be sharing my Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks.

These two shades are part of Maybelline’s traditional line which they used to refer to as a satin finish. They are now called “The Creams” and I think that is a more accurate description of the formula. They are comfortable, moisturizing, and provide good pigmentation. I would say they have a medium opacity. If you like a more opaque coverage, I don’t think these will do it for you. Brick Beat has a little more coverage than Crazy for Coffee, but it is still not fully opaque.

Continue reading “Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick Swatches (Brick Beat, Crazy for Coffee)” →