Nars Mekong Eyeshadow Review, Photos and Swatches!

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow ($24) is a deep-dark brown infused with gold shimmer.

Like many of Nars Eyeshadows, Mekong is extremely pigmented. In fact, it's probably the most pigmented eyeshadow I own next to Nars Night Clubbing. In fact, it's a bit like Night Clubbing in that they are both very shimmery in the pan, but apply to the lids almost black with minimal shimmer.

In some ways, it's intimidating to use because it's so pigmented and dark. It works very well for a liner, and will probably be my main use for this shadow.

I don't at all find it difficult to blend using a soft brush and it looks excellent in the crease and applied as a liner. On my lids, its a blackend brown with a slight golden/brown sheen. Applied wet, it is darker (almost black), but the shimmer shows up much more. It makes for a beautiful, rich liner applied wet. 

I find that when using this shadow, I have fallout on my cheeks - so when using this, it's best to tap off excess product before applying it to your lids. You literally barely have to touch the shadow with your brush for great color payoff. 

Also, you can guard your cheek with a piece of paper (I like using a business card) or you can apply your foundation after your eyes. I can see why only 57% say they would repurchase, as I don't think I'll ever finish this eyeshadow. With daily use - I think it would take me a few years to finish.. and by that time, I'd probably find something else I love.

This shadow has a rating of 4/5 on makeupalley, with a 57% re-purchase rate. So, the overall rating is quite good, but only half of the reviewers would repurchase. The major complaints about this shadow is that even though it is richly pigmented, the shadow looks black on the lids rather than the beautifully shimmery brown. The shimmer doesn't transfer too well on the lids, making it look like an almost matte black-brown with very little sheen. Some say it's difficult to blend with poor lasting power. Some say it's perfect in every way. (Read reviews here)

So what do you think of Mekong? Is it a love it? Or leave it??

MAC (LE) Cut-a-Caper Lipstick! Swatches & Lots of Comparisons!

MAC Cut-a-Caper Lipstick

MAC Cut-a-Caper Lipstick is a semi-opaque, medium coral-pink with a lustre finish. It's a limited edition shade that launched in the MAC 2010 Tartan Tale Collection.

The color is quite pigmented and can be built easily with additional coats. It is vibrant, but not nearly as vibrant as it looks in the tube. Because it's not completely opaque, it's a shade that's easy to wear.

Here is MAC Cut a Caper on my lips (my lips are lined with MAC Subculture Lip Pencil)

Here is a comparison of Cut-a-Caper next to MAC Jazzed and Everhip (both limited edition shades). Sadly, I don't own MAC Ravishing, but it's another lipstick that is often compared to these.

Left Photo: MAC Cut a Caper & MAC Jazzed, Right Photo: MAC Cut a Caper and MAC Everhip

Swatches from left to right: MAC Cut a Caper, MAC Everhip and MAC Jazzed.

All three lipsticks are very similar. They share the same vibrancy and depth. Cut-a-Caper has the strongest pink tone of the three. Jazzed has the most orange/coral tone. Everhip is the "in-between". It's stronger in pink than Jazzed, and more orange/coral than Cut-a-Caper.

Other Comparisons: (I forgot to add Illamasqua Obey in the bunch - which definitely belongs in the category)

Swatches from left to right: NYX Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie, MAC Cut-a-Caper (LE), MAC Everhip (LE), MAC Jazzed (LE), YSL Rouge Volupte 26 Tender Peach, Wet n Wild Mega Matte 903C Just Peachy, MAC Shygirl. Glosses: Revlon Super Lusturous Nude Lustre, Revlon Super Lusturous Life's a Peach (DC), NYX Smokey Look, OCC Divine & OCC Cha Cha.

NOTD: Zoya Renee!

Two (2) coats of Zoya Renee & One (1) coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Renee can be best described as: Ultra-bright red-toned medium neon pink creme. Bright and eye-catching, perfect for showing off a deep summer tan. (Source: http://Zoya.com)

In the bottle, Renee looks like a medium toned, magenta pink. Once applied to the nails it is much different. It looks like a vibrant pinked, red. In low lighting, my nails look completely red, but in the sunlight - the pink tone is much more visible.

You could really see in this photo how different the color looks on the nails, than in the bottle.

The formula is okay. It's opaque with two coats, although some may prefer three thin coats because my nail line was slightly visible. The reason I'm not crazy about the formula is because, it's now day 3-4 and most of my nails have cracks in the polish. Also, this polish is very easy to chip. Just about all of my nails on my right hand are chipped. 

So, this isn't a nail polish I'd recommend unless you're crazy about the color and you're very "easy" on your hands.

Dior Crush Glow 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos & Swatches!

I received this palette in a swap yesterday, and thought I would share with you some photos & swatches!

Dior 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow No. 659 Crush Glow

Product Description: Your eyes have never beheld such brilliance. Shimmering palettes created with Dior's phenomenal new Wet Reflect™ technology. Ultra-reflective. Ultra-luminous. Ultra-incredible. Five metallic-rich shades in each palette. Silky-smooth and weightless. So blendable, the colors virtually fuse with the skin for looks that defy creasing, smudging or fading. (Source: http://nordstrom.com)

Crush Glow was a part of Dior's Summer 2010 collection. The palette contains a peachy gold shimmer, light pink/champagne shimmer, copper bronze shimmer, coral-pink with a slight frost and a silvery taupe with a pink pearl. All of the shadows are soft and pigmented. The bronze is the most pigmented shade from the quint. All of the colors are beautiful and they all go very well with each other. I think it's a perfect color palette for the Spring & Summer.

Now that Dior has reformulated their 5-Colour Eyeshadows, Crush Glow seems to resemble Sunset Cafe - but after looking up swatches of Sunset Cafe, they are a bit different and I actually like Crush Glow much, much more.

Here are the colors swatched without a base.

Although I haven't tested any of the colors on my eyes, just from swatching them, I'm very satisfied with the color payoff, blendability and consistency of the shadows (they are so soft!)

I'm excited to try it out, and I should have some looks for you soon!

What is your favorite Dior Quint??