Nikki From HR

I’ve been having a hard time writing this review for the Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow Veil Powder ($16, 8g, 4 shades). It feels hard to explain it when a product pretty much does what it says it’s going to do, but I still don’t like it. For reference, I’m in my early 40s, and my skin type is dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone. I use heavy and hydrating skincare (glycerin-based serum, heavy oil-based moisturizer), which will affect how products look and perform.

According to Morphe, this is “a sheer, weightless, multi-tone powder that sweeps on to softly set and finish your look with natural radiance.” Again, I pretty much agree. It is weightless, and it sets my makeup well, while also giving radiance. I have the shade Golden Hour, which is described as golden with balancing peach. It doesn’t look very golden on me (NARS Tahoe/Estee Lauder 4W4, olive undertone), and leans more pink, but it is not unflattering. However, since this powder is multi-tone and swirled, each compact will vary slightly in shade. That is something to keep in mind. If you buy it in person, the packaging does allow you to see the powder, so you might be able to pick one with a better swirl pattern based on which shades you need.

This blog uses affiliate links (marked with **).  I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site.  Learn more here.

Continue reading “Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow Veil Powder Review (with comparisons)” →

I just have a quick swatch post for you guys today. I discussed the Hourglass Curator Eyeshadow Palettes ($68) last month in a Wednesday Window Shopping Post. I did decide not to purchase any of these, but while I was in Sephora the other day, I was able to get swatches of the Futurist, Expressionist, and Realist Palettes. These palettes are talc-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. The packaging looks nice, but the size is so small that it just ends up feeling cheap, considering that these are $68. They are also small in terms of product quantity.

• Hourglass Curator Eyeshadow Palette – $68 for .09 oz (from Bloomingdale’s site)
• YSL Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette – $68 for .17 oz
• Pat McGrath Divine Bronze Luxe Eyeshadow Palette: Venusian Sunrise – $62 for .18oz (review of the Bronze Borealis Quad can be found here)
• Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette: Pillow Talk Dreams – $55 for .18 oz (review of the Pillow Talk Dreams Quad can be found here)

I knew they were small before I saw them in person, but walking up to the display, it just hit me differently to see them. Then, picking them up, I just expected a little more weight. And I say that as someone who often uses their pressed powder, which is plastic and not necessarily weighty. They swatched ok, but they just don’t feel worth it to me. However, I haven’t tried the formula on my eyes, so keep that in mind.

Continue reading “Hourglass Curator Eyeshadow Palette Swatches (Futurist, Expressionist, and Realist)” →

I’ve posted about Chanel’s Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadows ($40) a couple of times (here and here), so this is also kind of a product update. All of the shades are swatched at the end if you want to skip to that. The shade 224 Ble D’or Antique is my favorite of the four shades that I own, and it is the only one I haven’t talked about anywhere on my website before, so I’ll start with that one. Chanel describes this as a golden green metallic, and I agree. The amount of shine it provides is impactful without looking textured or dry. When swatched, it feels a little loose and gritty, but whether I apply it with a brush or my fingers, it isn’t messy to use. I tap my brush off to minimize fallout, and that does work. Sometimes there is a sparkle or two that strays, but overall, the application is fine. However, this does have fallout throughout wear. I mainly see it near my inner corner area, and again, it is a few sparkles. But I only see it if I am up close in the mirror, looking for issues. Chanel calls these “long-wearing” eyeshadows, but then states that they provide 8 hours of comfort and wear. That sounds a little contradictory in a way. Typically, I expect long-wearing claims to be closer to the 12-hour mark. However, I do find that, except for 240 Brun Fauve (I’ll discuss this one at the end), the shades that I have last for the entire 8 to 10 hours that I typically wear my makeup for.

Continue reading “Shop My Stash: Chanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadows (248 Latte Frappe, 240 Brun Fauve, 252 Peche Glacee, and 224 Ble D’or Antique Swatches)” →

Although it has seen many reformulations, this line is an old standby at the drugstore. I’m pretty sure it was either the summer or fall of 2023 when I first tried the Wet n Wild Color Icon My Lucky Charm (5-pan) and Call Me Sunshine (10-pan) Eyeshadow Palettes. However, this new formula and format of eyeshadow had been released by the brand sometime in 2021. I did post swatches of them on my makeup swatches page, but I didn’t give them much of my attention or do a full review because I figured no one would be interested. Shopping through my stash over the past week or so brought me back to these. Lately, I’ve been contemplating decluttering the Tom Ford Olive Smoke Quad, but I decided to give it one last chance. I am still experiencing creasing issues, no matter what I do, and for a $95 quad, I shouldn’t have to put in that much effort to make it work. I thought to myself, I surely have something else that can give me an olive eye look. 

That’s where the shades in the Wet n Wild My Lucky Charm 5-pan palette ($4.99) come in. A couple of the shades reminded me of the Tom Ford quad. They are not dupes, and the shades are different (see swatches below), but I thought of the Tom Ford Quad once I had done an eye look with shades 1 and 2. Plus, it had the benefit of having a matte for blending in the crease, which the Tom Ford Quad lacks. This discovery also prompted me to revisit the Wet n Wild Call Me Sunshine 10-pan palette ($6.49), and I’ve been enjoying both palettes so much this week. I like them both for different reasons, so let’s get into the details in case you’ve ever wondered about these.

For shade reference, my best foundation matches are NARS Tahoe and Estee Lauder 4W4.

This blog uses affiliate links (marked with **).  I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site.  Learn more here.

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**Wet n Wild My Lucky Charm 5-pan Eyeshadow Palette ($4.99)

Continue reading “Wet n Wild My Lucky Charm and Call Me Sunshine Eyeshadow Palettes (Swatches and Review)” →

I haven’t ventured very far into the Fude brush world, but last year I decided to branch out from Sonia G and try a cheek brush from the Koyudo brand. If you are unfamiliar, Fude brushes are handmade by Japanese artisans. The Kakishibuzome KK-2 Brush (previously KSZ-03) is a Saikoho goat hair brush that retails for $58. The Kakishibuzome series features bristles that have been dyed with persimmon, giving it an ombre effect as well as antibacterial properties. I purchased mine from Beautylish (not affiliated), but it is also available on the CDJapan (not affiliated) and Fude Beauty (not affiliated) websites. Spoiler alert: this brush has a beautiful design, and the quality is excellent, but I prefer the brushes I have from Sonia G. This really comes down to personal preference, as I had little issue with the finish left by the Kakishibuzome KK-2 Cheek Brush. Let’s look at some pictures and comparisons, and then I’ll get into why I don’t like it and the best use I found for it.

Continue reading “Koyudo Kakishibuzome Series KK-2 Cheek Brush Review” →

Jumping right in, the first thing I want to discuss in this review is the eye safety warning on the packaging, because eye warnings on eye makeup products annoy me. The Revlon Glimmer Liquid Eyeshadows ($8.97 – $10.49) have a warning (avoid getting into eyes) that can only be seen if you open the packaging to view the ingredients. These shadows come with a shrink wrap that must be removed, followed by a white label with product information that opens to reveal the ingredients (where the warning is located). That white label also has to be removed to open the eye shadow. While I appreciate the secure package from the standpoint that it is less likely to be opened and swatched, I think it should be easier to see this eye warning. I wanted to mention it especially since it is listed as being safe for sensitive eyes and suitable for contact lens wearers. I know that many everyday care products also carry this type of warning, but I wanted to highlight it because I didn’t see it in the online product information. I have not experienced these getting into my eyes. Even when I remove them, they come off easily and haven’t migrated into my eyes. I haven’t noticed any eye irritation either.

Continue reading “Revlon Glimmer Liquid Shadows (Starstruck, Spaced Out, In Your Orbit)” →

Update July 27, 2025: National Lipstick Day is coming up on July 29, 2025, and with it, brands will be offering sales on lip products. You absolutely don’t need to buy any lip product or participate in this marketing event, but for those who want to, this post would be a good starting point for some recommendations. I keep an updated list of sales linked in the menu at the top of this website (Beauty Sales). You can check that out if you are looking for sales, but this week, in particular, I will be adding lip product sales that I come across. I also have a lip product index, if you’d like to see more than I have featured below.

If you are trying to avoid National Lipstick Day sales but need some encouragement, I have a post called ‘Beauty Sales: Let’s talk about where you can save money and why there is no rush.’ Some of the stores listed in that post have since closed, but the message remains accurate and relevant.

I know I’m not the only one to notice the overabundance of lip balms and lip oils lately. I am happy for those who enjoy that style of lip product and now have plenty to choose from. On the other hand, there are also many stains and longer-wearing matte formulas being released. I understand the need for this type of lip product, and some people certainly need low-maintenance products. As for me, a traditional cream bullet lipstick remains my favorite lip product. I’ll take comfort over long wear and touch-ups over maintenance-free any day. I draw the line at cream formulas that feather into the fine lines around my lips and sink into my lip lines.

My favorite lipsticks have changed a little over the years as brands have discontinued some formulas. So, I figured I’d talk you through my updated lipstick favorites. There are some formulas that you may have heard me rave about, which are not among my top picks. In those situations, I enjoy the formula, but either I can’t find a shade that I love, or something about the formula annoys me. I’ll list those at the end for anyone curious.

So, here are four lipsticks (and an honorable mention) that I have come to rely on for good wear time, easy reapplication and touch-ups, at least medium pigmentation, and flattering shades for my skin tone (NARS Tahoe, Estee Lauder 4W4). I have an olive undertone, and my lips have a purple undertone; these both play a significant role in how lipsticks look on me.

Continue reading “Is Anyone Else Still Loving Cream Lipsticks? (Charlotte Tilbury, Maybelline, Estee Lauder, and Pat McGrath)” →