BareMinerals’ Soft Focus Face kit

Technically, these are three eyeshadows…or one eyeshadow, one blush, and one face color…or two eyeshadows and one blush…or…well, you get the picture. The Soft Focus colors work well a lot of ways. The Beach Bum Trio from Silk Naturals was similar, because you could use the colors just about anywhere on your face and unless the colors clashed with your undertones, they’d work.

BareMinerals’ Go Bare kit

This kit was released during my time heavily buying Bare Escentuals, but the color combination was rather neutral, and leaned warm…so if I did notice it, I would have gone right by. The items are nice enough, and the coordinate well. The kit even included a mini brush - not the most useful brush in BE’s lineup, but still something usable.

Physician’s Formula Cream GelLiner in GlamBlue Silver

I really like the cream trios, so when I spotted the “glam” versions with different colors and metallic liners, I was intrigued. They look lovely! Unfortunately…they don't apply smoothly. It's very frustrating! I've tried and tried, and I can't get even coverage no matter how carefully I apply, even if I make short “dashes” and then go back and connect them. The larger-area swatches worked a little bit better, but the thin lines…not successful.

Stila’s Sparkle Waterproof Eyeliner in Sequins

Dark black that keeps that “wet leather” look even after it's dried, with scattered silver microglitter. This went on very smoothly and evenly - no skipping or thin spots. The brush is very carefully shaped, no flyaways and no going every which way and causing lots of “coloring outside the lines” problems. The liner does take a little bit of time to cure thoroughly, so be sure to give it that time or later in the day you may not...

Meow Cosmetics’ Vim blush

Softened red, with an extremely faint shimmer. It's not quite a satin finish, but it's very close. The finish is as noticeable as it is, in the swatch photo, because all of my blush swatches are just a little bit heavier than I apply them on my face. It's easier to see both the color and the undertones when it's more heavily swatched, but you aren't just looking at the color in the pot (which, of course, won't tell you...

BareMinerals’ buxom Roxy

Roxy was one of the original “full color” Buxoms - I think she might have been in a small kit as well, but I don't have records of that. The color was nice, almost too warm for me to wear easily, but neutral enough that cooler-toned people could wear it and look good as long as the rest of the makeup was also mostly neutral or autumnal.

TKB Trading’s Soft Violet

Meow Cosmetics’ Phantasm

Not quite as deep a purple as Femme Fatale's Nightmare, but close - and similar, in that it's a deep violet with the blue interference. This one doesn't stain the skin like The Nightmare does, which can make it the better choice for people who want dark violet that will blend and smudge just a little bit easier, and who want to be a little more in control about how much the purple takes over their eyeshadow look

Shiro Cosmetics’ Rebellion

Deep navy that doesn't apply as pigmented as I'd like. The blue is deep navy, but the coverage is a little thin in spots. This can be rectified by layering, but there are so many of Shiro's eyeshadows that apply great straight out of the pot, one layer…that this was a bit frustrating.

Beauty from the Earth’s 4 Leaf Clover

I wish this green was a little less…light. The color payoff isn't the strongest I've seen. Dry application is nearly semisheer and shows some thinner spots. It's unfortunate, because otherwise this is a very nice midweight green with a soft satin finish. It's slightly buildable, and it performs better when foiled.