Spotlight: Arbonne Lipstick and Eye Shadow

Products Sent For Consideration

Arbonne Lipstick & Eye Shadows

Last month, I reviewed some products sent to me by Arbonne. I shared with you my review of an eye shadow, their foundations, bronzer and blush.  The company was kind enough to send four more shadows my way as well as a couple of lipsticks for review.  I am always interested in testing out vegan lipsticks, as I think good quality vegan lipsticks can be somewhat difficult to find. 

Over the past week or so, I've tested these products individually and together to see how they performed. I am happy to say that I've found the quality of products from this brand to be very consistent.

Here is a look at the products I tested: 

Eye Shadow:  Eye shadow is one of my favorite makeup products. There are so many colors and textures to choose from, making it one of the most fun mediums to express my creativity with.  Arbonne eye shadow is a mineral-infused eye shadow, that is both blendable and long wearing. It contains beneficial ingredients such as cucumber extract, vitamins A, C and E.  Like all Arbonne products, these shadows are completely vegan (contain no animal derived ingredients), gluten free, paraben free and cruelty-free (not tested on animals).  If I could only use one word to describe these eye shadows, it would be smooth. The formula has a silky texture that glides nicely on the eye lid, leaving behind a very smooth appearance. I was able to test both matte and shimmer formulas from the brand. Arbonne eye shadow is currently available in 20 different shades.  I didn't find any chalkiness among the matte shades, and all of the colors I tested translated to the lid in true to pan color.  I tested one shimmer shade, which I found to be very different than shimmery shades from other brands. The shimmer is quite subtle, not the heavy glitter bombs often seen on the market. I really like this, especially when doing makeup on more mature clients.  Rather than being a heavy metallic, the shimmer shadow I tested simply reflected light when applied to then lid, creating a beautiful glistening appearance sans fallout. The four colors I tried are: Vanilla (matte cream), Java (warm brown), Petal (baby pink) and Indigo (prune shimmer shade).

Each shadow is housed in a metallic gunmetal-like compact with a clear see-through window on the lid. The name of the shadow is clearly labeled on the bottom of the compact.

 Above: Indigo (shimmer)

 Above: Java (matte)

Above: Petal (matte)

Above: Vanilla (matte)

Vanilla is a matte cream shade similar to MAC Brule. I love it as a highlight shade on my skin tone.  I also used it as matte cheekbone highlight, making it a multipurpose product for me.

Petal is a light baby pink that has a very nice brightening effect on the eye. I love this as an allover lid color, and also took it into the inner corner of my eye around the tear duct. 

Indigo is going to be an awesome shade for fall. Prune eyeshadow is the "it" color for fall, and although named Indigo, it is a dusty purple with light shimmer particles in it. My favorite way to wear this is solo applied with a fluffy brush as a wash of color. 

Java is a great basic to have. It's a reddened brown that works great as an eye contour shade.  I also like it worn very close to the lash line as liner, applied with an angled brush or pencil brush. 

 Swatches from left to right: Vanilla, Petal, Indigo, Java

Here is a look at how I wore the shadows: 

 Above: Petal on the lid, Java in the crease and on the lower lash line

 Above, Look 2: Petal on the lid, Indigo in outer corner and in crease, Java close to the lash line, Vanilla as a highlight under the brow bone

 In my last Arbonne post, I got questions about ingredients. In looking at the package, all of the shadows appear to have similar ingredients.

Eye Shadow Ingredients (as printed on then package): Barium Sulfate, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Zinc Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Boron Nitrate, Dimethicone, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract, Marrublum Vulgare Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Hexapeptide-10, Ribose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol.  May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Chromium Oxide Greens, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Manganese Violet, Ultramarines

Lipstick: I am very impressed with the formula of these lipsticks!  The two I tested are creamy, smooth and true to tube in terms of color pigmentation. This is a great lipstick formula period, not just great for a vegan lipstick. The packaging is a slim rectangular tube with angled bullet.  The formula itself has a satin finish and medium to full coverage. Shimmer shades are also available from the brand, but I have not tried those. I find the formula to be very long lasting without feeling dry on the lips. I did not experience any feathering or bleeding. I wore these solo (no lip liner or primer) and also tried mixing the two shades together.  These lipsticks also contain hydrating ingredients like aloe, wild mango butter and pomegranate extract. 

 Above swatches: Coral Reef (left), Shell (right)

Coral Reef is the perfect summer shade. Most coral lipsticks lean pink or orange. This one definitely leans a bit more on the pink side which I find makes it much more wearable for most. I really love this color. I think it can really help enhance a summer (self) tan. This shade is universally flattering, and will flatter nearly all skin tones. 

Shell is a light nude beige.  I love this as a mixing color.  I often mix lipsticks to create my own custom shades.  A color like this is ideal to lighten other shades.  On it's own it can create a nude lip for a monotone runway inspired makeup look. This shade cancels out any red tones in the lip, making it a great alternative to concealer if you want to really nude out the lip before applying another color. 

 Above: Coral Reef

 Above: Coral Reef and Shell mixed together to create a lighter shade

 Above: Ombre Lip, Coral Reef with Shell just applied to the center of the lips

 Above: Ombre Lip, Coral Reef with Shell just applied to the center of the lips

 Above: Shell

Above: Coral Reef (without flash) 

Lipstick Ingredients: Rinicus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethlene, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Oleyl |Alcohol, Pentaerythirtyl Tetraisostearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polybutene, Cera Microcristallina/Microcrystalline Wax/Cire Microcristalline, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Cera Camauba/Copernica Cerifera (canauba) wax/Cire de Camauba, Candelilla Cera/Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Cire de Candelilla, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract,Alaria Esculenta Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Ethyl Linoleate, Lecithin, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Betaine, Lauryl PCA, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Glycerin, May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Red 33 Lake, Red 28 Lake, Red 22 Lake, Red 7 Lake, Red 6, Iron Oxides, Blue 1 Lake 

I hope you enjoyed this look at Arbonne eye shadows and lipsticks.  For more information, or to purchase any of the products here, you can visit arbonne.com 

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Related Posts: 

http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2013/06/spotlight-arbonne.html

*This post contains products sent for consideration. This in no way alters my review. I do not get paid to write reviews.  I do not get any payments or commission if you purchase any of these products. All opinions are my own.  Any links are for the benefit of the reader.

 

Spotlight: Kelley Quan Vegan Beauty Brushes - Face Brushes

Products in This Post Purchased By Me

Kelley Quan Vegan Beauty Brushes-Face Brushes

Kelley Quan Vegan Beauty Brushes are vegan pro-quality brushes that embody luxury with a conscience.  I love brushes. I mean really really really love brushes, bordering on obsession. I've had many conversations with people about brushes, and am often asked if I've tried Hakuhodo.  For many, Hakuhodo is "the" luxury makeup brush to have. However, their brushes are made of animal hair. Although I love makeup brushes more than any normal person should, my love for animals is much greater. There are many companies that also claim to make animal hair brushes without harming the animals. I'm not calling anyone a liar. The truth is that I don't know for sure how the animal hair is obtained for any animal hair brush. I'm not there on the farm, to see what happens to these animals. I do know for sure that some companies, many companies, obtain the hair for their makeup brushes via the fur industry.  Since I am not a detective, I just can't in good conscience purchase an animal hair brush without knowing for sure where the brush comes from. This is simply my personal preference.  However, nothing is going to stop me from buying the most luxurious brush I can find sans cruelty.  I often refer to Kelley Quan Vegan Beauty Brushes as the vegan version of Hakuhodo brushes. I actually got to feel some Hakuhodo brushes that were on display at IMATS this year, and in my opinion the Kelley Quan brushes are much softer and silkier.  The reason that I compare Kelley Quan's brushes to Hakuhodo is that they are hand shaped, never cut, something very hard to find in a synthetic brush. The brushes themselves are a work of art, beautifully crafted.  I love looking at them almost as much as I love using them. 

The newest additions to my Kelley Quan brush collection are the #5 Synthetic Black Mink-Medium and #22 Synthetic Blue Squirrel Tapered-Large. I've had these for nearly a month now, so I've had a decent amount of time to test them in a variety of ways.  These are both face brushes, and the first face brushes I've tried from this collection. 

#5 Synthetic Black Mink-Medium ($38.50):  The bristles on this brush are designed to mimic the look and feel of real mink minus the cruelty. The bristles are super silky, and soft which is why I love it for professional use. When applying my own makeup, I sometimes just grab for the nearest clean brush, but when applying makeup to others, I want it to be a pampering experience for the client.  For this reason, I only use my softest brushes when applying makeup to others. This brush is ideal for applying powder highlight to the top of the cheekbones, or setting powder under the eyes. It's a medium size, which I personally prefer when working with setting powders. A brush of this size and shape allow for more precise placement. I really love using this brush with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. 

 Vegan Beauty Brush #5

Pictured Above: The bristles are ultra silky and smooth

 Vegan Beauty Brush #22 Synthetic Blue Squirrel Tapered-Large ($65): This is a very large brush, and I have found it to be extremely useful. I consider this to be my finishing brush. It is not a traditional shaped powder brush. Brush #22 has a full, fluffy head, with bristles that taper to an angled shape. This brush is ideal for use with powder products. I will often use it to dust on finishing powder, or dust off excess if applying it with a puff.  I also like this to blend out any harsh edges from blush, contour or bronzer. The fluffiness of the bristles also allow for a nice light application of product, so it does work well with highlighting powders as well. This is one of the higher end brushes in my collection in terms of price point, but I feel the cost is well worth it for the quality. A makeup brush of this caliber will last you for years. In hind site, I wish I just bought The Complete Beauty Brush Collection.  However, if you still want to enjoy the luxury of Kelley Quan at a fraction of the price, she does offer the Vegan Beauty Brush Travel Set for only $85. 

 Like all Kelley Quan Brushes, the bristles are extremely silky

 Each brush comes numbered on one side and embossed with the Kelley Quan logo on the other

I hope you enjoyed this look at my Kelley Quan vegan face brushes. All brushes from this brand are hand crafted in the U.S.A. These brushes are hypoallergenic and easy to clean. Most synthetic brushes on the market today are made with only one type of synthetic hair. Realizing this, Kelley Quan created brushes that actually mimic real animal hair by combining a premium blend of different types of synthetic bristles. This adds texture to the brush allowing for a flawless makeup application every time.  

To learn more about Kelley Quan Vegan Beauty Brushes, check out my Synthetic Brush Guide, or visit the brand's website at: http://kelleyquan.com/

Please don't forget to SUBSCRIBE! It's free, and helps support the site.

Related Posts:

http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2013/05/spotlight-kelley-quan-vegan-beauty.html

http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2013/04/spotlight-kelley-quan-mascara-wand.html

http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-top-5-makeup-brushes-collab.html

*The brushes reviewed in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews.  All opinions are my own. i do not get any commissions or payment if you purchase these brushes. Any prices or links in this post are for the reader's convenience only.  

Bronze Smokey Eye For Summer - Tutorial

All Products In This Post Purchased By Me

Bronze Smokey Eye For Summer-Tutorial

The other day, I posted a picture of myself wearing a bronze smokey eye to Pinterest. I got so many compliments, that I thought I would show you how I did it. It is so super easy to do!  This is the perfect look for beginners.  You really only need a few of things to get started. 

• Gold creamy shadow pencil such as Tarte SmolderEYES in Gold
• Cool matte brown powder shadow such as NYX Bare My Soul
• Eyeshadow blending brush
• Angled eyeshadow brush or pencil brush 
• Eyeshadow primer (optional)
• Synthetic precision brush (optional)

To begin, I primed my eyes with Lime Crime's Eyeshadow Helper (vegan & waterproof).  This step is completely optional, but I always prime my lids as a general rule. I find this step helps prevent creasing, makes eyeshadow appear more vibrant and helps the color last longer. 

 

 I always apply my eye primer using my ring finger because it is the weakest finger, thus gives a lighter touch when dealing with the delicate eye area. 

Next, you want to grab your shadow pencil.  For this look, I used Tarte SmolderEyes in the color Gold. This pencil is completely waterproof, making it an ideal choice for summer. It has a super metallic finish, making it just so pretty when your lids catch the light. I purchased this pencil as part of a collector's set. If you don't have this pencil, some other good choices are NYX Jumbo Pencil in Gold, Benecos Creamy Eyeshadow Pencil in Green/Gold or Milani Gold Magic Liner and Eye Glimmer in #01 Gold Glimmer

 Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Gold

Starting at the base of the lash line, apply the shadow pencil to the lid.  Apply the color all the way up to the crease.  You don't have to worry about being neat because it is going to get blended out. Using your finger or a synthetic precision brush, blend out the color so that it is evenly dispersed on the lid.  Then take a clean blending brush, and soften any edges.  I highly recommend doing one eye at a time. Once these set, they do not budge, so you will want to blend quickly.  Start off with a light layer, then add another layer and blend until you reach the desired intensity. 

 Gently pat and smooth out the color using your finger or a brush.

I like the Sedona Lace 224 for this step because the size and shape mimic your own fingertips.

 Going in with a clean blending brush helps soften edges

 Examples of blending brushes are: Furless Pro2E, Cozzette S175 or Royal & Langnickel BX-66

 

Once completed, the eye should look something like this (above).  If desired, you can stop here and just add your favorite mascara for a completely waterproof look.  When I go to the beach, I wear something like this, because it's easy and will last through the splashes. 

Next, I took a matte cool brown shadow to define the outer corner of the eye. The shadow I chose is NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow in Bare My Soul.  This is a brown that almost has a tinge of gray in it, making it look more like a shadow than a true brown color. When mixed with the gold pencil, it creates the bronzey color we want. This is also an eyeshadow I like to use for contouring or brow powder. If you don't have this shadow, any cool toned brown will work. Some suggestions are: Pur Minerals Spiced Mica (shimmer), the reddish brown shade in the Tarte Femme Naturale Eye Pallette also works well as does Coffee Bean from Too Faced Matte Eye Shadow Collection. 

Using a fluffy brush, such as the Cozzette S175, pick up a little of the cool brown eyeshadow and stamp it lightly on the outer corner of the eye. Gently blend back and forth without bringing the color into the crease. Pick up more color onto the brush and add more product, blending as you go until you reach the desired intensity. Go back in with a clean fluffy brush to soften any harsh edges if desired. You should now have a gradient from gold, to bronze, finally ending in the cool brown shade at the outer corner. 

To get that "smokey" look, you will also want to take Bare My Soul under the lower lash line. I recommend using an angled brush, or pencil brush.  

 For this look I used the Sigma Small Angle Brush E65, but the E30 Pencil Brush would also work

Apply Bare My Soul to the lower lash line using an angled brush

That's it! How easy is that?  All you have to do now is curl lashes and apply your favorite mascara. I skipped adding a highlight shade to this eye look because I wanted to keep it simple. Summer makeup is all about simplicity.  However, if you prefer a more "done" looking eye or want to make this appropriate for evening, go ahead and add a highlight shade as well as liner and lashes. Just be sure to keep any highlight shadows matte so that they don't compete with the metallic lid. 

Here is the finished look. I added some bronzer, blush and lip color to complete the look. 

This is an eye look that I have been wearing a lot this summer. It is so easy to do, and helps me spend less time in the makeup chair and more time out having fun and enjoying the weather.  What is your go-to summer look? 

Related posts:

http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2012/09/5-min-smokey-eye-using-stila-smudge.html

http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2012/11/1-brand-look-tarte-cosmetics.html

http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2013/06/makeup-dupes-and-cruelty-free.html

FTC:  All products in this post were purchased by me. Links are only included for the benefit of the reader. I do not get any commission if anyone buys these products. I do not get paid to write reviews.  All opinions are my own.