Review: Medusa's Make-up

Autumn is officially here (although it is more like winter for some) and I have been turning to warmer, nude shades in my makeup case.  But let's face it, we all have our basic browns and so I am always on the lookout for "new nudes" - the warmth and simplicity you love from nude shades, but in updated colors.  Luckily, I just so happened to purchase some "new nudes" from Medusa's Make-up.

Medusa's Make-up has a romantic history.  A husband and wife team opened a boutique back in the 90's and created signature cosmetics for their shop.  In 2005, the duo launched their full makeup line.  Their products are all cruelty-free and many options are vegan, and they offer a little bit of everything: glitter, lipstick, skincare, etc. 

I was initially drawn to the Safari Eyeshadow set: 12 pressed shadows in coordinating shades for just $35.  I also ordered a lipstick at $12, and a vegan eye makeup remover, 4 ounces for $8.  First up, the eyes.

The above swatches are done on bare skin without primer or lotion underneath.  The colors from top to bottom:  Jungle Fever, Black Gold, Tarzan, Desert Rose, Headhunter, Maneater, Liger, Xtinct, Venom, Voodoo.  (Note: I am actually giving two of the shades, Amulet and Midnight Oil, as gifts so they are not pictured.)

The Pros:

These shades range from bright blue and green to rust, pink and brown.  As you can see from the swatches, however, all of the colors work beautifully together and they would be positively ideal on any skin tone.  I was amazed at how wearable these colors are.  All of the colors have a sheen to them but, again, very subtle.  I adore the sparkle without the glitter.  These are surely going to take the place of your daily colors.  The consistency is like butter and, though somewhat powdery, they are very easy to blend for subtle smokey eye looks.

The Cons:

Of all of the eyeshadows I have reviewed, Medusa's are the least pigmented.  You're going to end up with a soft wash of color versus extremely bright, solid colors.  The above look was done using an eyeshadow primer and a sponge applicator.  Sadly, all of Medusa's Make-up's eyeshadows contain talc, a filler I am not too keen on, and beeswax, so they are not vegan friendly - No worries, however, there's no animal testing!

  
Medusa's Make-up currently offers 8 shades of lipstick, all of which are vegan.  The above shade is Baroque, perhaps best described as a pale sangria shade: a mix of magenta and burgundy.  It is pictured in the look above and below. 

The Pros:

With a semi-matte finish, this smooth wearing lipstick feels more like a balm when applied.  It is fragrance-free and long wearing.  I wore this out to dinner and only needed a single touch up despite eating and drinking!  It also has a nice base color about it that just so happened to whiten my smile.  I really like the packaging, it's sleek but unique and just a touch vintage.  In addition, Medusa's has also added lip gloss to their lineup although I have not yet had the pleasure of trying it out. 

The Cons:

Again I find myself disappointed when inexpensive fillers find their way into otherwise awesome cosmetics - in this case, mineral oil.  Mineral oil is not a deal breaker, but it is worth noting.  

Afterthoughts:

I advise you to join Medusa Make-up on its various social media channels, as they announce sales and the like there.  You can also keep updated on new product releases and see photo swatches.

I rarely comment on the websites themselves as I'm far from a graphic designer; however, I find Medusa's website terribly confusing and difficult to navigate. For example, if you visit the "eyeshadow" page, you will find the Safari set priced at $59; however, if you visit the "deals" page, it's $35.  There are absolutely no swatches to be found either so you will be guessing, at best, on the way the colors really look when applied.  One bonus is that Medusa's offers free shipping with orders of $25 or more.  You can also give an e-gift certificate in any amount you choose so gifting is ridiculously easy.