Review: My Pretty Zombie Cosmetics

Despite some recent dental woes, I am absolutely feeling the Fall season.  Pumpkin spice is everywhere from my candles to my kitchen, I've busted out the autumnal decor, and now as we near closer to my favorite holiday, Halloween, it seems only right that I review My Pretty Zombie cosmetics at this time.  Started in 2010, the self proclaimed underground cosmetics company has creativity to spare.  From their Butcher Shop Collection (ironic since some of the shades are vegan) to the WTF Collection, the unique colors and mantra of the brand are just plain fun.  MPZ cosmetics also offers blush in addition to their loose mineral eye shadows, and a wonderful little thing called Mr. Pickles Miraculous Beauty Dust.

Chances are you are wondering about the photo at top.  The five shadows I purchased came packaged in a black, Chinese food takeout style box with MPZ's signature "severed finger" attached with a pink ribbon.  Needless to say, I got quite a kick out of it.  

The photo above was taken in artificial light and, as they are mostly pastels, it's a bit difficult to capture their true beauty.  From top to bottom:  Tenderloin, Fatback, Celery and Bile, Law Firm Lamb Cake, and Rabid Weasel (I chose the You Pick 5 Eyeshadow Set for $20).  Tenderloin and Fatback are from the Butcher Shop Collection.  Tenderloin is a gorgeous shade of red wine with a purple/blue shift and Fatback is a surprisingly feminine, baby pink with an iridescent quality to it.  Celery and Bile is a mint green with a white gold shift, and Rabid Weasel is a matte gray with a blue undertone to it.  I must address Law Firm Lamb Cake separately for several reasons:  1 - I'm a lawyer and "law firm" has never, EVER made it into the cosmetics realm in this fashion.  2 - This is an extremely unique formula.  It's a mix of iridescent white/gray shadow with bits of iridescent glitter mixed in!  It requires a primer, preferably a glitter adhesive, but it's absolutely amazing on.  I fully intend to mix it into some lip gloss just for fun one of these days.  3 - It makes an excellent highlighter.  Just perfect.  It is my favorite of the lot.

Above is a quick eye look I did using Fatback all over, and Tenderloin in the crease.

The Pros:

If you're a gal that likes unique makeup that's just a touch on the dark side, MPZ is for you.  I just love how this brand doesn't take itself too seriously and has fun, exciting color options for every taste.  There are many ways to purchase eye shadows, too.  Although I can't see how you could resist buying multiple shades, you can purchase one single pot, a whole collection, or colors from the entire line.  The website clearly states what is safe for eyes and lips, and also which shades are vegan.  Have an adventurous cosmetics lover in your life?  MPZ offers gift cards, which is a perfect way to let a friend try this loveable line.  5 gram eyeshadow pots are $5 each, and I received 2 sample shadows and a sample of Mr. Pickles Miraculous Beauty Dust (finishing powder) - LOVE.

The Cons:

The website recently got a makeover and although it is easy to navigate, things seem to be in strange order... Prices are also confusing in that a collection of 4 or 5 shades may sell for $20, but choosing 3 shades runs about $15.  You'll want to check around to be sure you're getting the best deal, whatever route you're taking.  I'm a rather clumsy person and I prefer my loose shadows to come with a sifter for that very reason (fyi - sifters are the little plastic covers with the holes in them that's just under the lid of the eyeshadow pot).  There are no sifters with these shadows and so it requires a little extra caution when opening as there's nothing to hold the shadows in place once the lid is off. 

My Pretty Zombie is a little bit creepy and a lot pretty.  There's no need for a lot of fluff or fancy advertising here, just quality cosmetics... and fun.

Review: My Beauty Addiction Cosmetics

I have a tiny obsession with lipstick, stains, glosses, etc.  I find lip cosmetics a simple way to update your look in a flash.  In my never ending search for fun and fabulous lip colors, I am always pleased when I stumble upon cruelty-free brands that offer various formulas and tons of color options.  I was delighted to find 5-year-old handmade brand MBA Cosmetics.  With over 600 items to choose from including eye shadow, body products and, of course, lipsticks galore, I was sold.  Lip sticks and glazes range from $4.75 to $7.50 - how affordable!  Not to mention bundle specials (5 for $20 on Sugar Babies? Yes, please!).

As pictured above, I purchased the Whipped Soap Souffle in "Hello Sugar," Petite Lip Paint in "Burlesque," and Sugar Babies in "Breathless."  The "Passionfruit" loose shadow was a freebie sample.  The souffle is the consistency of room temperature butter, all creamy and smooth.  The first two ingredients, glycerin and almond oil, are incredibly moisturizing and leave skin feeling soft even without a separate moisturizer.  Delicious!  But onto the cosmetics...

The HD lip paints are described as being the most highly pigmented lipsticks of the bunch.  Velvety smooth and hydrating, they offer superb, opaque coverage with a semi-matte finish.  The photo above is "Burlesque" and was taken in natural light, no flash and no filtering or editing has been done.

The Pros:

This little tube is packed with pigment and feels wonderfully smooth on the lips - no dry out!  I got wonderful coverage from just one coat and didn't feel the need for a lip liner.  There are so many colors to choose from; novelty colors like brilliant green and banana yellow, and nudes and pinks galore.  There are also various forms of the lip paint.  You can purchase the same formula in a tube or in a pot for application with a brush.  Depending on what you choose, prices range from under $5 to $7.50.  For the price, this is a must have.

The Cons:

The main issue for this lipstick is staying power.  Because this is a very hydrating formula, you may not get the longest lasting wear without a lip primer.  If cutesy packaging is a must for you, this very functional brand may not initially catch your eye - however, it appears from some of the photos on the seller's site that the packaging may be getting an upgrade to sleeker black tubes.

The aptly named Sugar Babies apply like a gloss but deliver the pigmentation of a lipstick.  They smell like a sugary vanilla cupcake and offer a shiny, non-sticky finish.  The photo above is "Breathless" and was taken in natural light, no flash and no filtering or editing has been done.  Depending on how the light hits it, it's a dark, stormy gray/blue/purple.

The Pros:

They smell sweet enough to eat and come in an amazing selection of colors.  Given the reasonable price tag, I wanted to try a color I'd never consider otherwise.  This jojoba oil based gloss is not sticky, yet delivers lots of shine.  This formula mixes easily with other lip glosses to boot!  At just $4.75 I could easily see myself stocking up on many of the colors available.  The coverage is quite impressive for a gloss, though not quite what I'd consider a liquid lipstick.

The Cons:

Again, don't let the simple packaging fool you - unless simple packaging just isn't doable for your personal collection.  This particular color, "Breathless," does temporarily stain my lips, but can be wiped away easily with makeup remover or plain old cleanser and water. 

If color and value are important to you, look no further than MBA Cosmetics.  I am quite sure I'll be placing another order in the near future. 

Tutorial: Peach and Gold Look

Saying goodbye to Spring can be difficult - heat and humidity are up, cool, crisp evenings are down.  What to do with all of those pretty pastels you stocked up on for Spring?  Try this makeup look in peach and gold that is perfect for a daytime look.  This quick tutorial is just 5 steps, so it's a great time saver!  Give it a try today!  I'd love to see your finished looks, so please send photos to me to be featured on the blog: BenevolentBeautyBlog@gmail.com

Enjoy!

Review: Impulse Cosmetics Lipsticks

The moment I saw bold, bright, matte lip colors come strutting down the runways early this spring, I was sold.  From neon hues to pretty pastels, there were colors galore and colors to suit everyone.  I suddenly wanted to try every possible shade, but found many mainstream brands just hadn't caught my rainbow fever and were playing it safe with bright pinks and peaches.  Enter the wonderful world of "Cult Cosmetics" - the relatively unknown but much loved cosmetics lines available for sale online.

One of the first "Culties" (read: my word for internet cosmetics brands you need to know but haven't met yet) I came across in my search was Impulse Cosmetics. Based in Pennsylvania, PA, Impulse Cosmetics offers a range of products from matte and metallic lipsticks to eye shadows and glitters.  The Impulse Cosmetics shop on Etsy boasts almost 4,000, 5-star reviews and over 16,000 happy admirers.  Of their 30+ lipstick shades, I purchased 6; 2 from their metallic finish, Metaluxe line, and the other 4 from their Opaque Matte Finish line.   

The Colors:

Note that all photographs are not Photoshopped or filtered so as not to alter the colors shown.  In addition, all photographs were taken using natural light at the same time, in the same place, to give you the truest possible depiction of the shades.

The Pros:

These vegan lipsticks, whether metallic or matte, apply smoothly right from the tube with minimal drag.  They don't feel excessively dry, and they boast a long wear time - "TEXAS TEA" lasted me an entire dinner without reapplication.  These babies pack major pigment so brights are very bright and pastels are very pastel.  BIG color payoff!  Another plus?  At under $7 a tube, you can afford to try several shades without breaking the bank.

The Cons:

As with any matte lipsticks, dryness and peeling can be an issue.  This is actually one of the least drying formulas I've tried, however.  If you're a girl who loves fancy, girly packaging to your beauty products, you will be disappointed with the very basic, very homemade plastic tubes these lipsticks come in.  

Application Tips:

At first these super-pigmented shades can seem a bit daunting as they are opaque and don't have the shiny, glossy quality you may be familiar with in lipsticks.  For the best, most even application, exfoliate your lips prior to application (I use a warm, wet washcloth and simply rub in a circular motion until dry skin is removed).  If you have a lip primer you love, use it.  Have trouble with lipsticks that bleed or settle into fine lines around your mouth?  A clear lip liner, or lip liner in a similar shade, would work wonders with these lipsticks.  Unfortunately, Impulse Cosmetics does not offer lip liners in corresponding shades at this time.  

The Bottom-line:

I have had a lot of fun with these colors and at such a reasonable price, I can play with runway-worthy color.  Impulse Cosmetics ships in safe, durable packaging and all orders come with tracking information.  Although Impulse Cosmetics seems to be swamped with orders at this time, the 4 to 7 day turn around time is reasonable in light of all this seller offers: high quality, highly pigmented, cruelty-free cosmetics in a wide range of colors and finishes.  Trust me, you'll be glad to add Impulse Cosmetics to your beauty routine.

Impulse Cosmetics can be found at: Impulse Co on Etsy.