Monday Minute// Tarte Gifted Mascara

Good Morning, 
This Monday morning I am going to talk about the new Tarte Gifted Mascara. I have been trying out this mascara for a couple of weeks now. I picked up the little baby version of it from Ulta. There are a lot of high end beauty brands that will release travel versions of their mascara for a very reasonable price. I highly recommend that if you are wanting to try out a more high end mascara that you look to see if you can buy the travel size version first. Mascara is pretty personalized, each one has a new fangled wand, different formulas that provide length, volume and curl, etc. I for one am not to needy when it comes to mascara. I have been blessed with long, definitive lashes. All I want in my mascara is some separation and a little bit volume, non clumpy/flaky. Thats it. So it does not take much to impress me when it comes to mascara. 

As for the Tarte Gifted Mascara, I like it. I certainly love the bamboo type packaging, very sophisticated yet organic, much like the brand itself. The wand is not shaped weirdly in any way and gives good separation to my lashes. I picked up this mascara because I had heard from many different sources that the formula was rather excellent. I don't disagree with that, however I do think that this formula makes for a much more natural look. My lashes do not look fake when I wear this mascara. Which is much different then what the market demands at the moment, I kind of appreciate that. 

I also like the fact that this mascara even feels natural, when I touch my lashes they do not feel crunchy or like they are being weighed down with product. They feel just like my lashes, as if nothing was on them, very soft, which is a plus in my book.

Overall, I am not calling Tarte Gifted "holy grail" mascara but, I like it. I am very pleased that I got the travel size so not only can it come with me for if and when I travel but also because after this mascara is done and dusted I can go out and try out another. 

Have you tried Tarte's Gifted Mascara? Tell me what you think of it. Also what are your favorite mascara's? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 

I hope you all are enjoying your Monday morning! 
See you next time

- A 

SHOP//

Tarte Gifted Mascara Mini - $10 

SUN// MAC Cranberry Shadow

Happy Sunday everyone! 

As mentioned in my last post regarding Makeup Forever's Artist Shadows (X), I have been really into eye shadows lately. I am more often drawn to a warmer color palette which is why the original Lorac Pro Palette (X)  is one of my favorite palettes of all time. I particularly love the shade "Garnet" which as you could imagine is a beautiful deep burgundy shade ( absolutely fantastic placed on the outer corner of the eye) However, I was craving something a little different, I was on the search for a very unique kind of color I have not really seen in other brands. That is why when I spotted this little beauty at the local MAC counter I knew I found what I was looking for.

Packaging//Design

All of MAC's permanent line of single eye shadows have the same packaging. A little black capsule with a clear top so you can easily know what shade you are using and very subtle branding. Eventually, if you collect enough shadows from MAC it might be simpler to pop out the pans and put them in a magnetic palette like a Z palette ( you can get a Z palette right from Sephora if it suits your fancy X) so your beauty desk does not get too cluttered. 

Pigmentation// Texture 

MAC's Cranberry is described as a " Red plum with pink shimmer" It is the perfect shadow to add warmth to any look. It has a frosted finish and blends out like a dream. 

This shade is actually very versatile though it may look intimidating to some. Just a touch of this shadow in the crease is beautiful as well as blended out just on its own. Currently, I like placing a champagne color on the inner corner and towards the center of the lid and then cranberry blended out from the middle, a touch in the crease blended out in the outer corner. 

Overall Thoughts

This shadow has been a essential part of my growing eye shadow collection. I even take it with me in my makeup bag now because I have been using it everyday. It has an amazing color payoff, no fallout, versatile, and flattering on everyone. Priced reasonably at $16 I would recommend any of you to go out and swatch this shadow. It's so unique and I have yet to find anything quite as special. Personally I believe this would make a grand addition to anyone's makeup collection.

Have you tried MAC Cranberry? What are your favorite eye shadows from MAC? Lets start a conversation in the comments below! 

I hope you all are having a restful Sunday today. Take some time to pamper yourself so that you can be well rested and prepared for the upcoming week.

See you all next time! 

- A 

SHOP//

MAC Cranberry $16 

SAT// Makeup Forever Artist Shadows

Hello everyone! its the weekend and next week we will be wrapping up the month of October. ( Now isn't that a frightening thought.) The days are getting shorter, and darker and all and all just a little bleak/depressing. I suppose that could be one reason why people get real jazzed up over the holidays. It gives us all something to look forward to in these upcoming dark, cold months. I for one, am not a big fan of winter. But, you know what I am a big fan of? Makeup (Big shocker there huh?.), especially eye shadow. I can't seem to get enough eye shadows lately, I feel as though that is where you can get most creative with your makeup. Makeup, can be looked at in some ways as an art form which is why the relatively new release from Makeup Forever is very exciting,  suitably called their; Makeup Forever Artist Shadows- With over 200 eye shadow shades to choose from in this range you can really be an artist with your eye shadow and choose your personal palette! ( Though choosing colors can, truly, be an endless process of deciding) 

Packaging//Design

The packaging of these products is a little unique due to the  fact that you get to create your own custom palette, therefore the eye shadow pans are separate from the packaging until you choose one. Makeup Forever provides you with three options for a palette case. A mono, duo or trio. All of which have a magnetic bottom so you can easily *plop* your shadows in there and they will stay, until perhaps you get the itch to change up the colors. That is when you can take a safety pin needle and stick it in a little pinhole on the bottom of the palette and out will come the eye shadow. Easy as that!  ( Note: Amazing for travel!) The look of the palette cases themselves are not too fancy and primarily just serve a utilitarian purpose of holding the goodies inside. 

Pigmentation//Texture

I already spoke of the ridiculous number of shades to choose from and if you didn't catch that bit there are over 200 colors to choose from. (*heavy breathing commences*) The colors I chose (after much debate, humming and hawing) were themed towards a very autumnal vibe. When you are in the store all the shades are labeled with a code starting with a letter which corresponds to the texture of that shadow. 

( M-Matte, D- Diamond, S- Satin, ME- Metallic, I- Iridescent)  If you are looking for shade names you can find those on the Sephora website. The colors I chose were:

 D- 826 Fig 

 I- 736 Copper Red

 I- 662 Amber Brown

The pigmentation of these shadows are so amazing, supposedly this is due to a breakthrough gel to powder formulation. These shadows are so soft and creamy and most notably they are soooo easy to blend. I feel as though if you were just starting out with makeup you could use just one of these shadows and be spoiled with its seamless, dreamlike blend-ability, you don't even really have to use a brush! You can use your fingers just fine to blend these fella's out. 

Overall Thoughts 

I feel as though Makeup Forever really won me over with this release. It appeals to a extensively wide audience. Whether you are just the everyday person starting out with makeup and wish to play with amazing and easy to blend colors or if you are a makeup artist/enthusiast and have essentially a world of colors and finishes at your fingertips. The price range varies depending on whether you go for a trio, duo or a single : A single shadow is priced at $21 and the eye shadow pans are big, you are certainly getting your money's worth. My only complaint would be its too hard to choose which ones you want first! 

Have you guys seen or tried the Artist Shadows from Makeup Forever? What are your thoughts on them? 

I also know I have been doing a lot of makeup reviews here on the Bats & Rabbits blog. My life has been a little too hectic to manage much else at the moment but, if any of you have ideas for blog posts or things you would like to see me talk about, please let me know I really value your opinions and ideas. 

I hope you all are having a great day. You all should expect to see another post up tomorrow! ( Trying to get the ball rolling here!)  See you soon! 

- A 

Shop//

Makeup Forever Artist Eye Shadows