Review: Lime Crime

If you're a fan of indies, then you've likely heard of their darling: Lime Crime.  You've also probably read the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding Lime Crime's founder, Doe Deere.  I, personally, am only concerned about makeup and sharing my opinion on the products.  So, let's just stick to that, shall we?  Lime Crime is a cruelty-free and vegan brand that most people know for their lip products.  However, they offer several palettes in the adorable tin packaging pictured above.  I chose Alchemy, a shimmery duo-chrome lineup that is perfect for building up a solid lineup of autumn colors.

Above I've swatched the Alchemy palette collection of pressed eye shadows.  Whenever I swatch, I use an ordinary eye shadow sponge and do one swipe across dry skin; no primer or lotion of any kind beneath.  I photograph the swatches in natural light (whenever possible) and don't filter the finished photo.  The colors from top to bottom:  Divination, Spellbound, Love Potion No9, Lucky Charm, and Incantation.

My two favorites, Divination, a brilliant, blue-based teal, and Love Potion No9, a dreamy lavender, are peacock-feather perfection, while the curious but wearable additions of Lucky Charm, a grass green shimmer, and Incantation, the color of a pumpkin spice latte or a burnt bronze/orange shift, remind me of an autumnal pumpkin patch.  Spellbound is a classic, blendable highlighter that works wonders in tying all of these shades together. 

A look I did utilizing ALL of the colors from the Alchemy palette.  I am also wearing Lime Crime's opaque lipstick in Coquette.  

A close up look at the above; I used Spellbound along my brow bone, with Love Potion No9 in the crease.  Lucky Charm is the true green on my lid with Incantation along my upper lashes.  The lower liner is Divination.

The Pros:

I love a palette that combines unusual colors one wouldn't normally include in the same collection.  As my makeup collection grows, I find myself seeking out the unique.  This is definitely it.  I didn't really have colors like these in my makeup bag.  The colors are vibrant but the formula is soft enough that it blends well.  You can layer this stuff on there for extremely vivid looks, or, like I did, blend it out for a wash of color.  I was pleased that the pressed cakes didn't turn to loose powder fall-out immediately upon use, as some tend to do.  The packaging is adorable and functional; it's just large enough to house the shadows without wasting space in my ever shrinking makeup case.

The Cons:

Pressed eye shadow palettes are never as budget-friendly as their loose shadow counterparts.  Ringing in at $35 the palette is still less expensive than major store brands, but may be too pricey for budget babes.  Unfortunately, it appears that once these palettes sell out, they won't be restocked.  I've yet to see a sale or promotional codes for Lime Crime, something I always hail indie brands for, but that is not to say they do not have them - just nothing I've come across.  

I'm having tons of fun with this palette, and it seems like that is the goal behind Lime Crime.  Regardless of their "politics" (for lack of a better term) the eye shadows are bold, bright and a great addition to any makeup collection.

Review: CDB Lacquer

As a follow up to my introduction to indie polishes, I figured I'd review one of the first brands I purchased.  I happened upon CDB Lacquer when a follower on Instagram recommended it - and, of course, posted pictures of the fabulous colors.  5-free, handmade lacquers in tons of colors and glitters - if you're a fan of glitter in various shapes, textures, colors and finishes, you'll be thrilled with CDB Lacquer - I was excited.  

CDB Lacquer offers three sizes of nail polish bottles to choose from: petite, mini, and full size.  If there is a color you're lusting after but aren't quite sure it suits you, the petite bottles are ideal for sampling at a reasonable price.  The full size polish is 13 ML (the same amount as an Essie polish) and is pictured at top; however, CDB Lacquer has recently upgraded its bottles to a square shape with flat brushes for easier application.  

Pictured above is "Radiant" from the "Vivid Vixens" collection.  Gnarled cuticles aside, it's a yellow/gold shifting polish with a faint glitter sheen to it.  I purchased this in the mini size just to try out.  I used two coats of the polish with a clear top coat.  It applied buttery smooth and was not thick or lumpy in any way.  

Pictured above and at top is "Nothing is Impossible," a very pale white/blue crelly with turquoise and black glitter with larger iridescent/silver, circular glitter.  I was impressed with how smooth all of those various glitters laid once the polish dried!  I have tried some glitter polishes from mainstream brands (e.g. OPI, Essie, Sally Hansen...) and had issues with the glitter raising up or peeling - not the case with CDB Lacquer.  After a clear top coat was applied, my nails felt almost completely smooth to the touch.

The Pros:

CDB offers a reasonably priced lineup of very creative nail polishes.  Most full sized polishes are around $8 each.  They have sales pretty routinely and free shipping options all the time so you're sure to get a great deal.  The polishes are 5-free (see my previous post on what that means for you and your health) and have very little odor to them (you know, that "nail polish smell"). The glitter in these polishes didn't settle at the bottom, so there was no fishing to be done upon application.

The Cons:

If you prefer to shop for your nail polish in store or simply don't do any shopping online, you won't be able to get your pretty little hands on CDB Lacquer.  Shipping may be limited or unavailable depending on what country you're in.

Overall, I was impressed with the quality of these polishes.  They last for a good two weeks without chipping.  If you want to dip your toes into the indie nail polish waters - literally and figuratively - the many options at CDB Lacquer will make it a very pleasant experience.

FYI: Indie Nail Polish Decoded!

It bears repeating: I love indie brands.  What is an indie brand?  Quite simply an independent brand most people associate with small businesses.  It may be a one-person shop or a rather large sized operation, but they all offer unique and fun products that you won't find at your local drug store or supermarket.  Indie nail polish is a vast market where creativity knows no bounds and there is glitter galore in colors and shapes you never knew existed.  But sometimes it seems like those indie polish gals are speaking a totally different language.  So, what's it all about and what are you getting into?  Here are a few "translations" that may help you as you begin, or expand, your journey.

Common Terminology:

Jelly - This is a description of the consistency of the nail polish.  A jelly polish is, well, like jelly you spread on toast!  It is glassy and generally somewhat sheer; it takes several coats to get opaque coverage.  It is a great vehicle for floating tons of creatively shaped glitter.
 

Crelly - Pictured above, a combination of the terms "cream" and "jelly" = "crelly." It relates to the consistency of the polish.  Like a jelly polish, it is not entirely opaque and, in addition, is creamy or cloudy.  Crelly polishes can be glossy or matte but are all milky.

Holo - Short for "holographic," these polishes shimmer and shine like no other.  No thick or chunky glitters here, it's more of an overall sheen that shifts color in varying lighting.

Undies - Just a cute way of referring to a base coat (you know, the clear polish you may or may not put down first before your color of choice).

3-Free - There are potentially harmful chemicals in nail polish, a topic of debate that recently caused even big name brands to change their formulas.  3-free nail polish is formulated without Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, and toluene. 

5-Free - Taking it a step further, 5-free nail polish nixes all the above, but also excludes camphor and formaldehyde resin.  Many 5-free polishes boast vegan and even pregnancy-safe formulas (be sure to check all labeling to be sure as these are not requirements, just nice bonuses).

Why Indie Nail Polish:

There are so many benefits to most any indie brands.  You're supporting small businesses and most all indie companies offer cruelty-free nail polish; many are vegan.  Because these small companies are all about the creativity of the maker, there are countless colors and styles of polish that are completely unique; everyone will be asking, "where did you get that nail polish?" These guys don't have the overhead of major brands either, so sales are abundant.  If a new collection is coming out or the maker wants to clear out some discontinued shades, you can save more than 50% off regular prices, which are already lower than store brands.  Ever wanted to design your very own nail polish?  Indie brands will often do custom orders!  That's right, you tell them exactly what you are looking for and they will design a nail polish for you.  Imagine what great gifts custom polishes would make, the possibilities are endless.

Where to Start:

If I've talked you into giving indie nail polish a shot, here are a few brands you must try!

Candied Apple Polish - 5-free polishes and tons of crellys!  This shop is particularly fun because the owner/maker of the polishes offers "Mystery Apples" - a surprise color you get to see when it gets to your mailbox.    

Rain City Lacquer - 3-free polishes for the pastel lover in you.  They ship internationally.

ella + mila - 5-free polishes in a wide range of shades if you're not big on glitter. There is a color for everyone here from brights to neutrals and they offer a "mommy and me" line with coordinating mother/daughter polishes.  Great for gifting.

CDB Lacquer - This is one of those shops that will do custom colors.  They offer polishes in three different sized bottles so you can choose just to sample, or go all out with a full size product. Some formulas are 3-free, others are 5-free.

drip drop nail paint - Often found teaming up with Candied Apple Polish for their popular duo collections, these 3-free polishes ship to the U.S. and Canada.  Drip drop also offers "prototype grab bags" where you can try a mystery assortment of one-of-a-kind polishes.