Korres - Eyeshadows

 I love Korres. They're natural, cruelty-free and have great products - my trifecta! They're based in Greece so their products often have Greek writing on them, so using them makes me feel like I'm somewhere warm and exotic! I've collected a bunch of their eyeshadows, in a variety of gorgeous shades, and love them all. Here they are:

Aren't those beautiful? They're incredibly pigmented, go on true to the colour in the pan and are universally flattering. Each of the shades I've tried works beautifully with my light skin, but I can't imagine a skin tone they wouldn't look stunning on! Here are some swatches so you can see the goods:

 

Sold? Luckily you don't have to go all the way to Greece to get your eager little fingers on some of these - they're widely available at Sephora (seriously, they've got everything!) and I got a bunch of mine in seasonal kits that were an amazing deal, so keep your eye out for more of those! My favourites are the purple (swatched above, top right) and bronze, which shows up metallic (swatched above left). Definitely a great find!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Since they were in kits and on sale, I'd say yup!
Would I purchase again? Yeah, providing they are cruelty-free - but there's a lot of product in these, so probably not for awhile!

Cruelty-Free? Not sure. They do not appear on PETA's lists and I was unable to find any information on their website regarding this issue. I have sent them an email and will update this when I hear back, but until I do, I won't be buying anything else from their company.

Where to find it: Sephora online.

Too Faced - Shadow Insurance

 To view image source, click on image

I suffer from major creasing because my lid area is quite small and overlaps when I blink. For this reason, I can't use even BeneFit Creaseless Cream shadows without creasing by the end of the day. I've tried pretty much everything out there (MAC Paint Pots, UDPP, Smashbox Photo Finish...) and I have to say that I've had the best results with this primer.

It is slick and easy to apply, which I like because I have very sensitive/delicate skin. Once it's on there, my shadow stays put all day long. No creasing, no fading. I've found that this works even better than UDPP for me, though I still do use both. The only reason to use a different primer in my opinion is if you are using shadows that have a glitter/lustre finish, which will cling better to the tacky base that MAC Paint Pots provide.

As mentioned in other reviews, the tube is much easier to use than the UDPP container and you need so little of the product that one tube will lase for months, even with daily use. I'd highly recommend giving this a try, even if you've been disappointed by other supposedly fantastic primers!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Definitely!
Would I purchase again? Unless another great primer comes along, this will always be close at hand.

Cruelty-Free? Yes - appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list.
Where to find it: Sephora in store and online, London Drugs in store.

MAC - Lipstick in Rebel

I picked this up with my Back-2-MAC trade-ins after getting heavy bangs recently that de-emphasize my eyes. I've started trying to compensate with more interesting lip colours like fuchsia pinks, berry shades and brighter reds.

I chose this one because I've found myself picking it up repeatedly the last few times I've been in MAC stores, but not wanting to spend the money on it as it looks quite dark and a bit intimidating! When went in with my empties I finally gave in out of sheer curiosity, and picked it out thinking that I'd probably try it once or twice and end up leaving it for special occasions.

But I brought it home, tried it on, and fell in love. It layers very well so that if you apply just a thin layer it is the most gorgeous berry shade with just a hint of purple/fuscia that makes the colour mesmerizing. It's got a very subtle sheen to it so that it looks lovely and isn't drying like matte shades. It can also be layered as dark as you want if you prefer to go for more dramatic effects. It even fades to a gorgeous pink stain as it wears off, so even if you don't re-apply constantly, it won't end up looking bad.

I cannot believe how great and flattering this colour is, particularly considering how pale my colouring is, but I see myself wearing this a lot in the future! If you've been eyeing it whistfully but talking yourself out of it because it looks so intense, give it a try. It may just surprise you!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Definitely!
Would I purchase again? I have, and I imagine I will again.

Cruelty-Free? Yes - appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list.

Where to find it: MAC in store and online. 

MAC - Eyeshadow in Sable

***Pictures and Swatches Coming Soon!***

If I had to pick one MAC shadow to use for the rest of my life for neutral daytime looks, I think this would have to be it. It's a lovely shimmery dusty rose colour that makes my hazel eyes really stand out. It can be blended with brown, pink or purple shadows to create a variety of looks - it even looks great on its own.

I've received a number of compliments when wearing this shadow recently, and find that it's so easy to work with that it's great for quick work looks. Because it's understated it blends with minimal effort on my pale, NW20 skin.  If you have pale colouring and hazel or green eyes this would probably be a wonderful shade for you, though it would likely look good with pretty much any eye colour and the shimmer would make it look amazing on darker skintones as well. Definitely a favourite!

Ratings:
Packaging: 4/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Definitely!
Would I purchase again? Yes, over and over again!

Cruelty-Free? Yes - appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list.

Where to find it: MAC in store and online. 

MAC - Chromeglass

L-R: Chromaliving, Metalberry, Technobeet, Hot Chrome!, Already Fab!, Prize Shine

I absolutely love this formula. I have been experimenting with a brighter lip lately, and Absolutely Fab! Chromeglass is now my favourite lip product, hands down. I love that this is not at all sticky, the chrome finish means you don't need a lot for a shimmery finish, and as it fades you are left with a lovely stain - and it fades evenly.

 L-R: Chromaliving, Metalberry, Technobeet, Hot Chrome!, Already Fab!, Prize Shine

I've read a lot of complaints about the applicator, and it definitely does pick up a LOT of product. However, I've found that if you just place several dots along the lips and then rub it in with your finger, it doesn't really matter. You can also layer it to whatever brightness/darkness you want in this manner. Because you need so little of it, it will last a really long time. I wish they would re-release it! Overall I LOVE this stuff!

Ratings:
Packaging: 4.5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Yep.
Would I purchase again? I wish! Sadly, it's discontinued.

Cruelty-Free? Yes - appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list.

Where to find it: If you find it, let me know where!

BeneFit - Erase Paste

via Sephora

I have very pale skin, so I often have trouble with darkness in the undereye area. But it's hard to find a concealer that is up to the job of covering it up without looking cakey or powdery. I was amazed that this actually does the job!

I use my fingers to apply it so that the warmth of my skin can help work it into the skin and blend it. I actually got this as a sample and need so little at a time that I haven't even gotten through a third of the sample yet even with daily use for over a month! It may seem pricey, but it will last you forever.

I think this is a great option for delicate skin that tends towards dryness, for even, natural looking coverage. The only down side is that, as with any undereye concealer, it must match your skin in order to cover invisibly. This only comes in three shades, and none for darker-skinned ladies, so if you don't magically match one of them (as I was lucky enough to) it will be useless. You'll definitely need to see this in store to match, but if it matches I think you'll like it! I'll definitely be shelling out for a full tub of this if I ever use up the sample!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? If you like it. Probably worth trying a sample first or buying it from Sephora so you can take it back if it doesn't work. It needs to match your skintone exactly.
Would I purchase again? Yep! (**Update 2/6/2011 - Because of the unsure status of this company regarding animal testing, I'm not buying any more of their products until I have more information.)

Cruelty-Free? Not sure. They claim not to use animal testing, but, according to PETA, they have repeatedly refused to sign the cruelty-free pledge to appear on PETA's Cruelty-Free list. When asked, they say this is because they can't guarantee that all the ingredients they use haven't been tested on animals at some point in history - but this is a given for nearly all cosmetics companies, so you'd think it would be implied for all the companies on the list. I'm still looking into it.

Where to find it: Benefit online, Sephora in store and online, Shopper's Drug Mart in store. 

LUSH - Fresh Farmacy

  

To view image source, click on image

I started using this when I was 18 and it was the first product I found that really helped to clear up my complexion while protecting my sensitive skin from drying out. It contains lavender which helps to balance sebum production in the skin (it's not like an astringent that removes oil altogether making the skin over-compensate, rather it balances the skin's natural oil production) and the calamine helps to soothe sensitive skin. This means that it's great for oily skin that is sensitive and/or acne prone as it will help reduce the look of any skin irritation.

Even cooler, as with many LUSH bars, you can purchase as much or as little as you want and it doesn't come in bulky, wasteful packaging - great for those of us who are conscious of the impact of overpackaging on the environment! The only down side for this is that because of the calamine, you really have to make sure you use a small amount of this at a time and store the piece you're using somewhere that it can dry out after use. Even better if you can use less water and form a paste with your fingers and apply that to avoid getting the entire bar wet. If you're not careful, it will eventually melt into a sludge if you keep it wet in a dish that can't drain excess moisture! For anyone who is acne prone with sensitive skin, this is worth a shot.

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Definitely!
Would I purchase again? I don't really use this anymore as my skin has settled down some in my "old" age ;), but I wanted to review it as it worked wonders for me in my youth! I definitely did re-purchase back in the day.
Where to find it: LUSH in store and online.