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: Beauty Bar Baby

No parabens, sulfates, talc, preservatives, fragrances, dyes or fillers.  Almost 400 items to choose from.  Various sizes and prices on products with 5 gram shadow pots as low as $3... I could go on and on and all of these rave reviews are about one shop offering cruelty-free and vegan makeup: Beauty Bar Baby.  I was in awe over the variety and, of course, purchased plenty for sampling.  I've split the review into two parts, eyes and lips.  I have so many lovely photos to share, let's get to it!

The Eyes:

BBB offers an overwhelming range of shades and formulas from duo chromes to glitters to matte finish eye shadows. Below are some swatches for your viewing pleasure:

From left to right, $3 each for 5 gram pots: 'Lectric Pink (glitter) over Sephora's glitter primer, Enchantress (matte) on bare skin, Santa's Suit (duo chrome) on bare skin, and That's Really Bananas! (duo chrome) on bare skin. 

The glitter, like other formulas, does not adhere to skin without some type of primer or adhesive.  Beauty Bar Baby's is a bit different, however.  It appears to be a glitter/pigment hybrid so you're getting an extra bump in color with the glitz of your traditional glitter. 

The above is an eye look utilizing the 'Lectric Pink glitter.  It is far more sparkly in person; it's tough to capture glitter in a photograph.

Enchantress is a lovely, gray based lilac.  Santa's Suit is my favorite of the bunch, a red/gold/green shift with more sparkle then most duo chromes I've come across in the market.  That's Really Banana's is a true yellow to iridescent shift that is surprisingly wearable.  I used it in the look below:

The Lips:

Under the luscious lips category, BBB offers more formulas than colors, and that's just fine by me.  I had to have a lip balm in Pumpkin Spice ($2.75); it's smooth and silky and the fragrance is the finest I have come across in handmade lip balms.  Below are swatches of the lipstick and Lip Potions I got my hands on:

From top to bottom ($6 each): Unicorn Kisses lipstick in Princess Candace, Lip Potion in Stroke of Midnight, and Lip Potion in Ritualistic.  Below are some swatches on the lips for another look at these goodies:

A look using Princess Candace semi-matte lipstick.  This stuff is like butter!  It is smooth and opaque and is the consistency of melted lipstick in a tube.  It is best applied with a brush even though packaged in a lip balm tube.  If you want opaque coverage that is mostly a matte finish without all the dryness, this is the formula for you. 

Above is Stroke of Midnight.  It is packaged in a 5 gram pot and requires a brush to apply it.  It is a very thick, very pigmented gloss texture that can work as a sheer wash of color, or become opaque with a heavier application.  It's a glossy finish, as well.  Same applies for Ritualistic, below:

The Pros:

Everything was priced below $10, and at just $3 for eye shadow pots, you can afford some fun, fashion forward colors you may otherwise pass up if you're on a budget.  The eye shadows - particularly the duo chromes - have more sparkle to them then I am accustom to and I love them.  They are absolutely beautiful and I have found no sparkle to compare as yet.  Princess Candace, from the Unicorn Kisses collection, feels amazing on and that is rare for matte finish lipsticks.  I am terribly impressed with the Lip Potions too, as you can wear them in many different ways.  I swatched them heavily in the photos, but they can be used as a light gloss, or added to a lip balm, the possibilities are endless.  

The Cons:

If you plan on achieving full coverage with the Lip Potions, you'll likely need a similarly colored base lipstick or it can look splotchy.  Without lip liner, the Lip Potions also tend to bleed.  It takes some doing, but they're wonderful and easy to use if you apply a sheer coat.  

Bonus Information:

Overall, I am very pleased with everything I purchased and, if you are reading this now (September 23, 2014) I urge you to rush on over to Beauty Bar Baby's shop because the seller is offering a limited edition Halloween collection!  It is available for pre-order now and is $23 and filled with tons of goodies.  Did I mention it is packaged in an adorable wooden coffin?  I know I'm excited about it!

Review: Concrete Minerals

Lately I have been falling in love with loose eye shadow.  Although I find it more difficult to work with, the range of colors and formulas seems endless: a makeup lover's dream!  It allows for truly creative looks.  Couple all of that with skin-loving ingredients and you've got Concrete Minerals.  Founded in 2009, Concrete Minerals boasts a generous line of 56+ eye shadows, both matte and shimmer, and 14 lip tints.  CM is also 100% vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and made with pure pigments and ingredients without fillers.  

 

The above photo was shot without a flash but under artificial (indoor) lighting.  The swatches were done on dry skin without any primer or moisturizer.  The photo has not been retouched or edited/filtered in an attempt to capture the true colors.  Colors from top to bottom:  Deviant, Storm, Sweet Catrina, Brat, Blood and Guts, Black Metal

The top two colors (Deviant and Storm) were free samples included with my order of the other four, full-size shades.  Each pot contains approximately 1.5 grams of product.  Deviant and Storm are wonderfully wearable gray tones; Deviant has a shimmer while Storm is a lighter gray matte.  Sweet Catrina, the most flattering shade, is a gorgeous pink champagne color with hints of silver shimmer.  It is wonderful for blending or highlighting.  Brat is a must have for girls who love all things pink and girly: the perfect shade of shimmering magenta!  Blood and Guts is a curious shade of rusty brown with a very faint green shift/shimmer, definitely a conversation starter.  Finally, Black Metal is most accurately named.  It's a deep, dark black with a silver/gun metal shimmer that is ideal as a liner or for a sultry smoky eye. 

The above photo was taken in artificial (indoor) light, but hasn't been edited/filtered.  I used Brat, blending well, which proves that even a vibrant shade can be totally wearable for day or night.  I smudged Deviant along my lashes as a liner.

The above photo was taken in artificial (indoor) light, but hasn't been edited/filtered.  For a base shadow along the lid I used Sweet Catrina.  I used Storm for the crease and then topped it with Blood and Guts across the brow bone.  By dipping an eye liner brush in water or primer, Black Metal makes a gorgeous liner!

The Pros:

First off, these shadows are a steal for the price, just $7 per full-size pot.  Considering there is no talc or fillers, you're getting true, honest-to-goodness mineral shadows that even sensitive skinned beauties can use.  There are also various promos and coupon codes ongoing that make for an even better value.  If you want to discover a "just right" amount of shimmer, Concrete Minerals is it.  Even the brightest colors are completely flattering and shine in a "grown-up" way.  These shadows are versatile: use them dry as usual, or wet as a liner or for a more vivid look.  Lastly, the packaging is fun!  Their collectible tins will surely appeal to the consumer that craves cute and sexy on the outside.

The Cons:

To be fair, I always try to look at the ups and downs of products; however, it's difficult to complain about such a quality line.  As with any loose shadow, it can be difficult if you're used to pressed eye shadow - there's fall out during application and storage can be an issue.  With a little practice and a big plastic bin to store it all in, you'll easily avoid those minor concerns.

Overall, Concrete Minerals offers a fun and flattering line of products that are perfect for us health conscious consumers that want the total package.