Site gripe of the week: Tchotchke-vomit

When you decide to place ads on your blog, stop and think about how many ads you want to have, and how large they'll be. Then, test your site with no ad- or content-blocking software whatsoever. Make sure that your ads aren't the first thing people notice when they come to your site. When people visit your site, your content should be what draws them in, and what they continue to read and remember…not the ads. Your ads will...

OPI’s My Private Jet

Apparently, the first version of this was a black holographic polish. I do not have that version, but the re-released version that contains multicolored shimmer…but it's barely dense enough to be noticeable, let alone holographic. It's a nice enough formula, but it's not a deep black, more like a dusted black. So one gets neither the rich black color, nor the holographic effects. If you have wanted to try black nail polish but stark black or “patent leather” is...

Zoya’s Parveen

Tan nail polish is problematic for me. If it's too yellow, it really doesn't look good on me. It can make my hands look red (see Going Nude, Eh for an example of a tan nail polish that Doesn't Quite Work.) I was interested in the three colors in this set, but was a little concerned that Parveen might not look good on me. Parveen makes my fingers look a bit redder than I'd like…but I do like the...

Question Wednesdays: Changing Seasons

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of each season? In winter, I love the snow and those moments during a snowstorm - light or heavy - where the wind falls off, there's a lack of sound, and the whole world seems muffled. In a world with so much constant background noise, I always loved those "noiseless" periods during snowfall. I do not, however, love the winter winds. They're harsh and biting and dry out my eyes. I...

Aromaleigh v2’s Muse collection

Based off of the Eye Plush collection - which I did not like because the color payoff was so softened - these are a fairly good collection of neutrals and softer shades with a softened-pearl finish. The color payoff was fairly solid for all of them. They’re not individually “eye-catching” shades, but that’s not their purpose. These are supposed to be a collection of regular-use, “go-to” colors.

My Pretty Zombie’s EJPCreations

I've tried red eyeshadows from various makeup companies (mostly indies), and the results have been a bit uneven. Either the color will be too orange-based, or the pigmentation levels will be disappointing…or the red will be gorgeous, exactly what I'm looking for, and a limited-edition color. EJPCreations has good color payoff and adhesion, and thankfully it's a part of the regular line. It is a little bit brighter than I expected from the shop photography, but not widely different.

Meow Cosmetics’ Streetlight Shimmer

This one's right on the border between black and dark navy, with a great color payoff. It doesn't leave a sooty residue behind, like some eyeliners do; but it does have pigmentation level similar to what you'd expect from other companies' darker eyeshadows. I liked finding a cool black-navy with the shimmer to it. It's similar to Aromaleigh's Dominion, from the now-discontinued Rocks! Sonic Eyes collection, but with more black and less blue tones. (The shimmer is also definitely a...

Aromaleigh v2’s Vera

About the same color as chocolate milk, or cafe au lait (heavier on the milk). The pigmentation level is decent, but not the best color payoff Aromaleigh has offered, in either incarnation. Vera is a neutral brown - I think that people with obvious olive undertones in their coloring might be less able to easily wear this shade because it is a softer brown…but I may be wrong. It is a pretty neutral shade, no overt warm or cool...

Saturday Soundtrack: Ragnarök (Corvus Corax)

Happy holiday weekend!: late May musings

Meow Cosmetics has re-released one of its summer-seasonal collections, Caribbean Escape. No additions this year to this collection, but they're holding a Memorial Day weekend sale. Register for their mailing list to get in on all of their sale information. They have a new collection coming out June 1 (in a week) that looks interesting! I think that this year I may just get samples of everything, and then buy the full sizes that I want next year when it makes...