Max Factor Wild Eyeshadow pots in Auburn Envy and Sapphire Rage & EOTD

I was super lucky to win these gorgeous Max Factor eyeshadow pots in a giveaway a couple of months ago. I had been seeing countless posts and reviews about these little gems and was so close to picking up Auburn Envy (a cool toned shimmery medium brown) of my own accord. Unlike many, I actually most often turn to single eyeshadows as opposed to large palettes, particularly those shimmery brown or golden in nature. As you can imagine, winning these was a lovely surprise. 

Sapphire Rage, a stunningly bright rich sapphire blue, was a little more intimidating...gorgeous, but scary. As you can see at the end of this post in the eye look I created, when on the lids it's not so intense but still packs a punch. I personally can't see myself wearing a shade like this terribly often but perhaps I'll have the chance to get it out at some kind of costume party.

These shades are both highly pigmented as evident in the swatches, but I find Auburn Envy is best applied using your fingers. I personally am incredibly loyal to my brushes so find it a little strange to take a step 'backwards' to apply my eyeshadow with a clumsy finger, but the colour payoff is just so much better. Both contain silver toned shimmer, with Sapphire Range containing larger glitter chunks in addition to slight shimmer unlike Auburn Envy containing no larger glitter.

I don't find either of these to be chalky, in fact they are quite smooth and easy to apply. They blend into one another remarkably well but I had more difficulties blending them with my other shadows. Having said that, they really weren't too much trouble with a good blending brush.

I love the little pots they come in. I find the compact, round little pots with a clear screw top lid to be practical and easy to work with. I like that the lid is clear so that the shade can be immediately seen, with 'Max Factor' being the only text printed on the top.

In terms of longevity, these do last well however particularly long or hot days do result in creasing. I don't know if it is because the blue is simply a more noticeable shade, but I found that it creased more prominently than the brown.

As far as I can understand, these are able to be applied either wet or dry. Applying an eyeshadow with a wet brush increases the intensity and pigmentation of the shadow, however in my opinion I would not apply these with a wet brush because they are already sufficiently pigmented. I would not like Sapphire Rage to apply to my eye as intensely as it appears to be in the pot! 

I decided to be brave and try and EOTD using them both. I am very, very unfamiliar with using bright colours so I didn't really have a clue how to go about it, but I think the outcome was actually not too bad. I reckon I would even be brave enough to wear this out in public! I used these two shadows featured, a silver shadow and black pencil eyeliner with mascara on the top and bottom lashes. What do you think?

These eyeshadow pots can be purchased for $12.95. Though they are tiny in size and kind of expensive when you can get a lot of 'drugstore' eyeshadow palettes for the same price, they're pretty good quality. Since I have so many eyeshadows, 90% of which I love, the way I determine my favourites is by taking note of the ones I instinctively reach for each morning. Auburn Envy has been one of them.

I like these little eyeshadow pots a heck of a lot and would give them 8.5 out of 10.

Model's Prefer Sweet Shadows Eyeshadow Tin

I have honestly had the greatest luck in the world in the past two months, winning three giveaways! One of them was Amanda's from Thai Tales  where I won the Model's Prefer Sweet Shadows Eyeshadow Tin. I was ridiculously excited about winning this because just look at those gorgeous eyeshadow shades and the incredible packaging they come in! 

As far as I am aware, the Model's Prefer tins are a direct imitation of some eyeshadow tins from Too Faced. I personally love that I can have the opportunity to play around with a more affordable alternative, however I'm not sure Too Faced would be all that thrilled!

When it first arrived and I opened the package up, I literally had to pry it from my mother's hands as she declared that it was "the most beautiful makeup packaging in the entire world." I am inclined to agree with her, because I can't think of anything more adorable than the little tin. I think it is most appealing to younger girls, and I think for someone starting out with makeup this would be a perfect (and cute) array of beginner's shadows. 

I immediately spotted the shades that I new would be my favourites and crossed my fingers that those were the ones that were pigmented. I had read some reviews and was aware that it was a little hit and miss with these shadows, with some being incredibly pigmented and others completely sheer. 

The shades included are as follows: 

Top Row

Innocent: Grey toned lilac shade. Pigmentation: Poor

Lovely: Deep toned true purple. Pigmentation: Good

Sweetened: Mid toned brown with cooler undertones and silver shimmer. Pigmentation: Fair

Graceful: Very, very dark brown (almost black) with a matte finish. Pigmentation: Good

Middle Row

Kisses: Shimmery, champagne white with slight pink undertones. Pigmentation: Excellent (it is SO buttery!)

Cute: Rosy brown/pink shade. Pigmentation: Excellent

Sugared: Light baby pink. Pigmentation: Excellent

Luscious: Warm medium brown. Pigmentation: Excellent

Bottom Row

Adorable: Light brown/grey shade. Pigmentation: Terrible

Angelic: Pure shimmery white. Pigmentation: Excellent

Precious: Coppery orange gold. Pigmentation: Excellent

Enchanting: Matte black. Pigmentation: Fair (very chalky)

As you can see, there was quite a variety of quality between each of the shades. Adorable was completely hopeless and that swatch (which you can barely see) was three built up attempts! Other shades, like Precious and Kisses were incredibly buttery and pigmented. Luckily for me, my most favourite shades were the best pigmentation!

I created an eyeshadow look using five of the shadows and was absolutely thrilled with the outcome.

1. 'Kisses' was applied over the entire lid.
2. 'Precious' was applied over the centre third of the eyelid.
3. 'Luscious' was used in the outer corner and crease
4. 'Angelic' was applied as an inner corner highlight
5. 'Lovely' was used as a lower lashline eyeliner for a hint of colour

I think the blend of white, gold and purple looks stunning and shows just how pigmented those particular shades are!

I do notice fallout with some of the shades, particularly the darker shadows, which is easily removed by brushing it away.

Not only were eyeshadows included in the tin, but an eye primer and clear brow gel too. I have had very little experience with eye primers (by that I mean no experience) and therefore don't feel as though I can make any real judgement about it. I found it to be a strange texture, quite tacky at first but then rather velvety once it had settled. It evened out the skin tone but I'm not sure I would bother using it regularly.

I feel indifferent about the brow gel - I will get use out of it but I wouldn't buy it on its own. It works but it is nothing terribly special.

All up, I am so pleased with this palette and can see myself experimenting a lot with it in the future. I've decided that Precious is just the most beautiful shade ever and I think that will be the one I hit pan on first!

I give this 6 out of 10 (because even though there are some shades I love, others are hopeless and you have no guarantee of the quality!)

EOTD - Olive Garden

 So I've been given the opportunity to play with a ridiculously fancy camera for this upcoming holidays, and it is incredible. My camera, whilst it's pretty good for how much it cost, absolutely sucks when it comes to taking nice swatches and pictures of eyeshadow. Now that I've got a couple of months with this incredible camera I am going to make the most of it and do some eyeshadow tutorials, starting with a super simple look!

Because I have hazel eyes, I like to compliment them with olive green shadow however it can be a bit frightening to have green shadow all over the lid so I only use a tiny bit to really bring out my eyes. Combined with the shimmery brown shades and champagne in the inner corner, I think this is a beautiful flattering look that would suit just about anyone!




































Step 1: Use a shimmery mid toned brown cream eyeshadow as a base
Step 2: Intensify the crease with a darker matte brown shade. Lighten the inner corner with a shimmery champagne shade.
Step 3: Use a liquid liner to create a thin line on the upper lashes. Create a slight wing on the outer corner of the eye.
Step 4: Smudge an olive green shade into the lower lash line extending from the very inner corner of the eye to the outer corner, joining with the liquid liner.
Step 5: Line the waterline with a black pencil liner and apply one or two coats of mascara


What I used:

- Essence Eye Souffle in Pas Des Copper
- Essence Quattro Eyeshadow in To Die For
- Bloom Collecta Colour Eyeshadow Duo in Waikiki
- Face of Australia Liquid Liner in Black
- Maybelline One By One Mascara in Black Brown
- Models Prefer Pencil Liner in Black

It is a bit scary to post eyeshadow tutorials because I'm just a kid who has no idea what they're doing, but I think it looks pretty and isn't too over the top and could be worn by anyone!

I hope you liked this EOTD - if you did please let me know because I'll come up with some more creative ones too!

My go-to eyeshadow look

Lately I have been super lazy with my eyeshadow looks, preferring to stick to a set 'look' that I have found works really well for me.

I begin covering my entire lid with the golden shade from the Bloom eyeshadow duo in Waikiki. This has been my staple 'base' shade since I first bought it and I will be devastated when it runs out!

Next is the third and fourth shade from my Maybelline quad in Autumn Spirit placed on the outer corner of my eye and in the crease. These shadows blend in beautifully, and it means that I can create this look in no time at all with very little effort.

I then use my Inglot Shadows. I use number 07 in the inner corner as a highlight, and shade 406 on my lower lashline in the outer two thirds.

Lastly I brush on a coat of mascara. Lately I have been trying to use up Estee Lauder's Sumptuous Bold Volume lifting mascara. This isn't one of my favourite mascaras but I don't want to waste it so I am trying to use it up.

It's pretty simple and nothing too crazy but I love how it compliments my eyes and works with every outfit. Paired with a baby pink lip or bright red, it looks beautiful, and it is so easy to do.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here!