Author: Carina

Oslo Cosmetics Review Part I feat. Vela, Lyra, Carinae, Doradus, and A Song of Ice and Fire

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My general impression of Oslo Cosmetics has been great so far. I think a mineral shadow’s quality is obviously good if you’ve been reaching for them more than your more convenient eyeshadows, which has been the case for me. Here are a few looks using some of my new shadows. I’ll make a part two soon, even though I’ve covered most of the colors here anyway. Vela & Lyra Vela looks scary dark in the pot, but it’s actually really lovely on the lid. It’s a green-blue duochrome that translates onto the lid as a brown with a green-blue sheen, depending on the light. It’s great for a daytime smoky eye. Lyra was just used to smudge under the lower lash line here. It’s a blackened plum/orchid but the purple-y parts don’t really show up unless you pack it on. I’ll have a look in part two of this review that will feature Lyra more as a lid color. Doradus & A Song of Ice and Fire Doradus is a color that also looks quite …

Verikos Collagen Tightening Cream*

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The Verikos Collagen Tightening Cream is a pretty interesting skincare product that I am super attracted to. Without the bells and whistles—or starfish and snail mucus—just your hydrolized collagen. Collagen is the selling point of this product; rightly so because collagen is a main component of skin connective tissue that takes up 70% of the skin and up to 90% in the dermis, on average. It’s known for moisture retention and elasticity control. The Verikos Collagen Tightening Cream is: — an anti-wrinkle functional cream — 5 free formula for sensitive skin type — nutritious and elastic skin care It “creates a moisture barrier on dry skin and the adenosine and collagen strengthen the skin barrier for hydrated and firm skin.” Aside from being perfect for dry skin, I appreciate how this product aims to have long-term effects by strengthening the skin barrier instead of just treating the dryness, for immediate relief. It contains amino acids for skin nutrition, too, helping peptide and adenosine enhance the collagen matrix in the skin. In effect, the skin becomes …

What’s in a name? Oslo Cosmetics Blush in Carina

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It’s no secret that I get suckered into buying things because of what they are named. In this case, an eyeshadow named Carinae caught my eye first. Then I found this blush by Oslo Cosmetics named Carina, for reasons that are pretty obvious. I’m not normally a bright neon makeup kind of girl, but I couldn’t pass it up. Oslo Cosmetics is a vegan and cruelty-free indie makeup company based in Columbus, Ohio. As I mentioned in my first haul/swatch post for the brand, a woman named Joyce K. started Oslo and mixes and makes all the colors. I wanted to try the eyeshadows from Oslo, especially, since they are pretty unique. Most mineral makeup is made up of loose pigments and minerals that are mostly fine. The ones by Oslo are kind of lumpy, due to added binders that actually make them really creamy to apply. The blushes, however, are similar to the traditional texture of mineral makeup. Carina is a “bright, cosmic matte red-orange blush,” which looks really scary in the pot. Though …

5 Ways to Wear a Vampy Lip & a Review feat. 3CE Lip Color in Vamp*

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One of the items from the November bntgirls box is the Stylenanda 3CE Lip Color in a very autumnal shade, Vamp. Let’s get packaging out of the way… I am in love with the semi-matte, black, square tube (almost the same as Tom Ford lipsticks, which are just a little shorter) and the clean design with the brand on just one side of the packaging. I love the box as well; I don’t know what it is about it! I don’t normally keep boxes but I just might for this one. Described as a cool and mysterious bloody burgundy, Vamp seems to have a cool edge to it that makes it a more modern shade of red. It’s still red, but it’s not the same red that you saw your mom wear when you were growing up. The woman who’d wear this red doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who’d clutch her pearls in distress. Or something. You get the idea. These lipsticks have a beautiful texture, which I guess is a good thing …

EOTD: Radiant Orchid

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Pantone recently released its Color of the Year for 2014, which is Radiant Orchid: Image from Pantone It’s a really, really pretty color, so of course I had to try and make it into an eye look. I used some shadows from the Oslo Cosmetics purchases I received last week namely, Pyxis and Lyra. Those were basically the only shadows I used but I’ll break down the look a bit more later. For cheeks, I used Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Flush and shu uemura blush in soft mauve M225. For my base, I used the Maybelline Clear Smooth BB White in 02 Natural*, set with bareMinerals Mineral Veil. For lips, I have Stylenanda 3CE Lip Color in Vamp* over the Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine. I’m testing out this eyebrow pen I just got, the Graymelin Seven Tattoo Eyebrow in Dark Brown* with a review coming right up! As for the eyes, I laid down my base (MAC Paint Pot in Painterly) and applied Oslo Cosmetics’ Pyxis on the inner 2/3 of the eye. …

Unboxing: BDJ Box (December 2013)*

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Hey everyone, here’s a quick unboxing post of the BDJ Box for December. It’s another brand-centric offering from BDJ. This time, the spotlight is on Max Factor. It has quite a bit of makeup items in it that you can try extensively, which is always nice. The theme for this week’s box is Stand Out Like a Star. Max Factor is known as “the makeup of makeup artists,” and this box has a lot of items geared to making you feel like a Hollywood celebrity. Most of the items are sample-sized, with the exception of the Creme Puff, which is a compact powder. Here’s a rundown of the items that came with the BDJ Box: Creme Puff Pressed Powder in Medium Beige — “all-in-one compact powder originally made for movie stars.” I haven’t tried it on my face, but holy wow this is heavily scented! (21g, Php 575) Earth Spirit Eyeshadow — this is a really pretty golden color that’s perfect for all over the lid. Makeup artists use it for eyeliner, too, according to …

Verikos Aloe Calming Oil*

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The Verikos Aloe Calming Oil* was actually the first item from the bntgirls November box that I pulled out first. It has a very earthy, organic look to it and I’m a sucker for aloe and clean design. There are also a small number of ingredients in this, so I know that it’s not full of crap at least. Sarie actually asked for this, if I didn’t end up enjoying it, but I actually really liked it. So I kept it for now. The Aloe Calming Oil “raises skin that is under stress by an outside hazardous article, moistly and comfortably.” I’m taking that to mean that this face oil is a moisturizer for stressed skin. Aloe is actually known to be soothing and moisturizing as well. Like my usual experience with aloe, it does not really give my dry skin enough moisture. I have been using it at my desk—I work from home and don’t usually wear makeup if I don’t have to, unless I’m testing stuff out—and also under a heavier moisturizer at …