First Impressions ~ Cargo Cosmetics Shanghai Nights Eye Palette

Hi Makeup Maniacs!  Not sure if you've noticed that I'm not posting as often as I used to. Well, between family, work, and my YouTube channel, I've been having a difficult time keeping up with the blog.  Although I love completing YouTube vids, my true passion is writing, so I definitely miss posting as often as I used to.

Anywhoo, I wanted to show you something I recently hauled.  (For a video about a Crazy Collective Haul <----------- click that link)  

This is Cargo Cosmetics Shanghai Nights Eye Palette and it's pretty darn badass!  The 12 eyeshadows are just beautiful.  From neutral to cool tones, this palette has everything you need to create some wonderful looks.  

Eyeshadows Swatched without Primer
From Left to Right - Top:  Wai Tai, Skyline, Bund, Lychee, Jin Mao, and Neon
Bottom:  Hu, Street Style, Ginger, Jade, Bar Rouge, and Night Life

I've really enjoyed playing with this palette.  I bought it at Kohls for $39 and I think that is a pretty good price.

Here is a look I created with the colors Neon, Bar Rouge, and Bund (black liner was by Marc Jacobs):

I had tried two of Cargo's face palettes before, but never any of their eyeshadows, so I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into with this purchase.  The formula of these eyeshadows is a little more powdery than I prefer, but overall, I was impressed by the quality.  I do not regret my purchase!

So, on my 5 star scale, with 5 being the best and 1 being the worst, I rate this palette 4 stars!  I took away a star because I felt these shadows could be less powdery and more pigmented.  Otherwise, this palette would get a perfect score.  

I hope you enjoyed my little review of this palette.  Please check out my YouTube channel, Mel's Makeup Mayhem!  It's FREE!!

Makeup Starter Kit feat. 4 Essentials!!

So, not everyone is a Makeup Maniac, huh? Who would have thunk it?!  If you are just getting interested in makeup, but you're not sure where to start, let me give you my two cents...

Here are 4 makeup must-haves to start the non-makeup user's collection!

#1.  Lipstick
You should start with the lips.  Don't worry, you don't have to go for the candy apple red or shocking violet color right away.  Baby steps.  Pucker up and say, "Yes!" to a lovely rose-toned shade.  It's a color group that looks great on lots of different skin tones.  A great, inexpensive brand to try is Milani.  They have a color called, "Plumrose"  and it's just perfect for anyone, in my opinion!

#2.  Mascara
Mascara not only makes your eyes appear more open, it provides definition to your eyelashes, giving you a more polished appearance.  Waterproof mascaras can be quite drying, so you only need to wear those if you are in wet and/or very humid conditions.  Otherwise, get yourself a great regular, black mascara. I suggest getting one that lengthens, as well as, gives volume.  Maybelline's the Colossal Volum' Express mascara is a great one!

#3.  Brow pencil or powder
Sprucing up your brows also polishes your look, but if you are just starting out, you may not know how to shape them, pluck them, or fill them in!  Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes gives you everything you need in one place!  It comes with brow wax cream to tame those wild brows and help them lie flat.  It also contains an eyeshadow duo that can double as a brow bone highlighter. Of course it contains brow powders to fill in your brows, but what really helps a "newbie" is the set of brow stencils!  These stencils can give you an outline of where to pluck your brows, depending on what shape you prefer.  They also set a guideline for filling in your brows.  I'm telling you ladies, this product is AWESOME!

#4.  Concealer
If you don't necessarily need full coverage for your mug, or don't enjoy the feel of creams or powders on your face, perhaps concealer is the way to go. You can use it just to cover those dark spots or blemishes so that you are not uncomfortable with a face full of makeup.  However, concealer will give you a little more confidence, as it evens out your naturally beautiful skin! A great, inexpensive concealer is the NYC Liquid Concealer.  This stuff is thick enough to cover up discoloration, but will not break the bank!

Well, I hope you enjoyed my post!  Feel free to join me on my YouTube channel for some more info and fun!  Click here for Mel's Makeup Mayhem!

Nails of the Day!

Hi Makeup Maniacs! I am not the best at nails and I certainly don't have a large nail polish collection, but I do like to see my hands and feet well manicured.  I love when fingernails and toenails match.  I notice that one color in my small collection always seems to stand above the rest, especially during fall and winter.  And that is Essie's classic color called, "Wicked".

This is one of those blood red colors that looks black.  It's quite lovely and goes well with any type of clothing.  I definitely consider this a "cult classic" and a "must have" for any cosmetics junkie or makeup maniac!

I hope you liked my Nails of the Day!  For even more fun, watch some of my vids on YouTube. Give me some positive feedback and let me know if there is a certain look you'd like for me to do a tutorial for!  Mel's Makeup Mayhem!