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Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette
Okay, I’m finally reviewing the Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette. Before you get all, “Ali, where have you been the past 3 years?!” don’t be rude! If you’ve spent any time reading my blog, you’ll notice I definitely favor drugstore makeup. They have tons of quality products for great prices, so I have trouble justifying buying most “high end” makeup items. However, my sister gave me a Sephora gift card, so I decided to splurge a bit and get this palette!
I went back and forth between all of the Naked Palettes, but after swatching all the colors, Naked 3 was the clear winner!
It’s packed with 12 amazing shadows, and I love each and every one! There isn’t a single shadow that I don’t think I’ll use! There are countless looks I can create with this palette alone from day-to-night, shimmery-to-matte, and natural-to-glamorous.
The shadows include shimmery pinks, a perfect matte highlight, neutrals, a red-toned black, and many more. I think the overall theme of the palette is rose gold (considering the beautiful packaging), and that definitely compliments my blue eyes. These shadows would be stunning with any skin or eye color though.
The shadows are very pigmented, so a little goes a long way. The palette also comes with four sample sizes of various Urban Decay eyeshadow primers. They claim each sample contains a week’s worth of uses, so you can really stretch them out.
All of the shadows are very easy to blend, and regardless of which ones you pick, they all go together nicely. I used a combination of five of the metallic and pearl shades, and I love how it turned out. Next, I definitely want to try using just the matte shadows.
If you only want to invest in one eyeshadow palette, I think this would be a good option. These eyeshadows are all exclusive to the Naked 3 palette. While the price is a little high for me, it’s a great value considering how many colors you get and what great quality they are. Plus, a nice, double-ended eyeshadow brush is included.
The hardshell packaging is great for traveling, and the exterior seems like it will be easy to clean after being toted around in my dirty makeup bag.
I’m very happy with the quality and quantity of eyeshadows in this palette, so I may be investing in more Naked palettes in the future!
Don’t worry, I’m definitely still a drugstore makeup girl at heart, but let’s just say I’ll be keeping my eye on Urban Decay from now on, too!
Have you tried any of the Naked palettes? What higher end products do you think are worth the money? Let me know!
Foundation: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1
Bronzer: NYX Matte Bronzer
Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara
Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!
Covergirl The Super Sizer by LashBlast Mascara
I’m breaking out of my Maybelline bubble, to blog about Covergirl’s New The Super Sizer by LashBlast Mascara in Very Black. I have been seeing this promoted everywhere lately, so I picked up a tube to try myself.
As you can see the wand is pretty unique. It is slender and the bristles are relatively short. The are attached in a sort of swirl, so you’re supposed to twirl the brush as you apply the mascara. I found the wand pretty easy to work with. It does take a little getting used to though.
It comes in 3 colors: Black Brown, Black, and Very Black. I always reach for the blackest mascara possible because I think it provides the most impact.
According to Covergirl, this mascara is supposed to provide “400% more corner-to-corner volume for full, fanned out lashes.” I think it mostly delivers.
My lashes definitely have more volume and length when I’m wearing this, BUT AT WHAT COST!? Hah, kidding. Drama aside, my lashes definitely clump when I’m applying The Super Sizer mascara, and the short-bristled, swirled brush isn’t the best tool for separating my lashes. Of course, if I work with it long enough, I can get it to work. However, other mascaras make clump-free lashes much more attainable.
Maybe to some people clumps equal volume? I much prefer separated lashes that are somehow volumized while remaining clump-free, but who am I to know what everyone wants?
The Super Sizer mascara is mostly flake-free, which is a plus. It doesn’t smear at all even in the heat, which is nice as well.
I have noticed a little bit of eye irritation when wearing this mascara, even though it is ophthalmologist tested. However, that could be due to allergies or another factor, I just wanted to mention it in case anyone reading has super sensitive eyes. You may want to avoid this one.
Another pro of this mascara is the price. From what I’ve seen it runs around $2 cheaper than many other drugstore mascaras…usually around $5-$6 depending on the store.
Overall, I’d give this mascara about a 7/10. Is it fabulous enough to make me abandon being a Maybelline Babebelline and try to be a Covergirl? Nope, probably not. (Also Maybelline Babelline was gross, I’m sorry.)
If you’re in the market for a new drugstore mascara though, I’d feel comfortable recommending it!
Covergirl’s The Super Sizer Mascara is available online, at drugstores, and at many big box retailers. If you decide to try it, let me know what you think!
As always, thanks so much for reading!
*FACE MAKEUP: Maybelline Fit Me Foundation & Concealer
*LIPSTICK: Maybelline Lipstick in Vivid Rose
*EYELINER: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner
*BRONZER: NYX Matte Bronzer
*This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you click on them or make a purchase using them, I may receive a small percentage. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!
Beauty Blurbs: L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
Mascara is probably my favorite makeup item. I just think mascara is crucial for opening up my eyes and completing my makeup look. My favorite brand of mascara is typically Maybelline, but I recently branched out and tried L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara.
This mascara claims to separate and build lashes for bold volume. The wand is nothing spectacular or new. It’s a pretty “average” wand, if you will. The formula is pretty wet, and doesn’t contain any sort of lengthening fibers.
As you can see, whether from the formula or the brush, this mascara definitely DIDN’T separate my lashes. If anything, it made them clump some. I worked and worked with the brush to help separate them, but i’m not sure how much it helped.
Another complaint I have about this mascara is that it tended to flake and smear on me throughout the day. Granted, I first tested it in Houston, which is notoriously hot and humid. I have worn it since returning to San Antonio, and these issues have not been quite as bad, but it is definitely worth mentioning. My mom wears this mascara as well, and she has complained of similar things.
As I stated, the formula is pretty wet, so I had to wait quite a bit of time between coats. I am wearing two coats in all of these pictures, and when I’ve tried to wear three, it simply becomes too clumpy. While this isn’t the worst mascara I’ve ever tried, I definitely think there are better drugstore options available.
If you need to build a lot of volume for your lashes and you aren’t afraid of some clumping, feel free to give the L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara a try!
Beauty Blurbs: e.l.f. Golden Goddess Flawless Eyeshadow Palette
Whether I go home to visit for a holiday, when Louis is out of town, or just to see my family, my mom often has little gifts waiting for me on my bed when I arrive. She’s just thoughtful that way. 🙂 On one of these occasions awhile ago, one of the surprises she had for me was an e.l.f. eyeshadow palette along with some other goodies. This particular palette, Golden Goddess, included four neutral eyeshadows meant to be worn together for a complete eye look.
I finally gave them a try last week, and they work together to create a great, everyday eyeshadow combo! As you can see, each color is labeled with where it should be applied on the eye: Base, Lid, Crease, and Line. These palettes are great for someone just starting out with makeup because it allows you to see what should go where.
I think these colors would work on most skin tones, and I loved that they had a hint of orange to bring out my blue eyes. I did use my Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded as a sort of eyeshadow primer to help the colors stay on longer and apply brighter. Other than that though, all of the shadow is from the palette.
I used the Line color to line both my eyelid and underneath my eye, and I think it definitely added some definition. I usually wear liquid or pencil liner, but I decided to just use the shadow as liner with this palette to see the full effect. I think it works great for a lighter daytime look and especially for someone who wants to define their eyes some without wearing a heavier liner.
As a whole, I’m impressed with the e.l.f. Golden Goddess Flawless Eyeshadow palette. I’m always a fan of e.l.f. products because they are priced great and can be found at almost any drugstore or grocery store. If you’re wanting to try a new eyeshadow look or just starting out with makeup, this palette is a great way to go without breaking the bank. They have seven different color combos in this palette type alone, so feel free to experiment away!
Beauty Blurbs: L'Oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes
Hi y’all, apparently I have a mascara obsession because I have, yet another, mascara review. This review is of the L’Oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes mascara in Blackest Black (as always). This mascara claims to make “lashes appear fuller, longer, sculpted and curled at [every] angle. Clump-free. Flake-free. Smudge-free.” Eh…not so much.
While I loved the super shiny, gold-mirrored packaging, I wasn’t such a fan of what it contained. L’Oreal was the first mascara I ever used, but once I switched to Maybelline Falsies, I haven’t really looked back. My mom still loves L’Oreal mascara though, so I figured I’d give this one a shot.
As you can see, the first coat went on pretty well. It defined my lashes some and added a little bit of length but not much volume or curl as advertised.
The second coat is where I saw some issues. There was clumping, and the fibers were visible and chunky. You can see above how there were visible gaps between the fibers and my lashes are pretty clumpy.
L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes mascara was okay. I always apply at least two coats of mascara for a fuller, longer lash look. However, this mascara doesn’t really allow me to do that. It might be okay for you, if you’re a one-coat kind of person, but I wouldn’t recommend it over other mascaras I’ve used. At around $8.99, it’s a little pricier than some drugstore mascaras, and I don’t think it’s worth the extra couple of bucks. If you want my advice, I say stroll straight past the L’Oreal section over to Maybelline! Is there a better L’Oreal product I’m missing? If you’re a fan, you can always snatch up a tube here.
I have some Ulta gift cards to spend thanks to my parents from Christmas and my birthday, so next week I’m hoping to go invest in some new makeup to review! I can’t decide if I should get tons of drugstore brand stuff or a couple of high end products…too much to choose from!!! I’m not good at making important decisions like this…
