Vera Mona Color Switch Duo Review

Vera Mona Color Switch Duo

The Color Switch Duo by Vera Mona ($20) is by far the most genius makeup tool I've come across in a while. It is every makeup artist/enthusiast's dream come true! This tin can contains a round black coarse sponge that allows you to change the last color used on your eyeshadow brushes without using liquid products to clean them. All you have to do is sweep the used brush around in the sponge and it instantly removes traces of the shadow from it for the next color-application.

The Duo also comes with a smaller white sponge in the middle that can be used for a wet shadow application. I haven't tried using this part of the Color Switch because I don't use water when doing a wet shadow look. I like to spray my brush with MAC Fix + or Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray because I find that they help create a more intense color application.

You could use a liquid brush spot cleaner in between colors but they are expensive and require more effort whereas the Color Switch is pretty much effortless. I especially recommend this product to makeup artists who are constantly changing shadow colors when working on a client. Using the Color Switch as opposed to brush cleaners is not only time-efficient but cost-efficient as well.

It can be used on both sides for up to 3 months in which case you should then get a refill sponge as it will begin to wear out and lose its effectiveness. A refill costs about $6-$7 compared to a 8oz bottle of Cinema Secrets brush cleaner which will run you about $30 and lasts about half the amount of time.

Clean-up for Vera Mona products embody the true definition of simplicity. Everything about them screams EASY! It will make your life that much easier when applying shadows to your eyes. Cleaning the sponge inside is just as easy as washing a beauty blender. You simply remove the sponge from the tin and wash it with soap and water then allow it to air dry.

Keep in mind that you are not disinfecting or conditioning your brushes with the Color Switch like you would be with a brush cleaner. It simply removes leftover eyeshadow from your brush and depending on the hair color and shade of the shadow it can still look dirty, but the shadow residue has been removed. At some point it is a good idea to spot clean your brushes in between deep cleanings.

Overall, I've really been enjoying the Color Switch as it's made makeup application just a bit easier. It has definitely become a staple product in my makeup kit.

Vera Mona Color Switch Duo

Availability: Vera Mona / Shop.com / Amazon / Naimies / Frends
Pricing: $20


Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions as they are my own honest experiences with the product. 

Lorac Pro Palette Review + Swatches

Lorac Pro Palette

Lorac Pro Palette ($42) is an eyeshadow palette that I've been wanting to add to my collection for some time now and haven't taken the plunge for until recently. Yes I know I'm very behind on this palette but better late than never right? Still I figured another review wouldn't hurt. So here it goes..

This palette contains (16) .02oz (total .32oz) neutral eyeshadows, 8 matte and 8 shimmer shades as well as a mini sized Behind the Scenes Eyeshadow Primer. From neutral to more dramatic looks, it is the perfect palette to own when you need to have variety packed into one product. All the shadows have great pigmentation and are buttery smooth. A few of the shades, in particular the matte shades can be a bit chalky but not too bad where there is a lot of fallout like other matte shadows. They can be applied wet or dry, especially the shimmer shadows which look beautiful on the lid.

PACKAGING
The sleek thin design of the Lorac Pro Palette is perfect for traveling. The black case is made of a sturdy cardboard that has a rubberized texture and a magnetic flip top. It also comes with a full length mirror which is great for those who rely on using the mirrors in palettes. I personally never do. The amount of product in these shadows is a bit small at .02oz each, compared to the size of a MAC shadow at .05oz.

I like the look and feel of the rubberized case but am not a fan of how dirty it gets. I like my palettes to be easy to maintain.

SWATCHES

(Top left to right) White, Cream, Taupe Lt. Pink, Mauve, Sable, Espresso, Black (Bottom left to right) Nude, Champagne, Gold, Lt. Bronze, Pewter, Garnet, Deep Purple, Slate

White is a cool-toned white matte. It can come off a bit chalky so I like to use this in the inner eye to create a halo effect instead of applying it to the browbone.

Cream is a light warm beige matte shadow. I need to pack more shadow on to get good color payoff. I suggest trying a nude base under this shadow.

Taupe is a warm medium brown with a matte finish. It has good color pigmentation. It's a great crease color or use it on the lid for light brown smokey eye.

Lt. Pink is a cool pale pink matte shadow with good pigment but can be powdery when applied.

Mauve is a true pale purple matte shadow with pink undertones. It applies smoothly and is a great color to blend out other colors. I like to use it to blend out the harsh lines of a black smokey eye.

Sable is a warm medium dark brown matte shadow with great pigmentation that applies smoothly to the skin. I love to use this shade to darken the crease and on the lower lashline to smoke out black liner.

Espresso is a dark cool matte brown with good color payoff. It looks great used on the outer v for a smokey eye.

Black is a dark black-grey matte shade with good color payoff. Though it is black, it isn't the deepest black out in the market and it can be a bit patchy. Pat on this shadow instead of sweeping it on to prevent patchy streaks.

Nude is a frosted beige and applies very buttery.

Champagne is a frosted pink-champagne shadow and applies smoothly.

Gold is a copper colored shadow with a frost finish. It has a metallic look when applied to the skin. It is also buttery and has rich color payoff.

Lt. Bronze is my favorite color from this palette. It is a warm peachy shadow with a frosted finish. It is smooth and pigmented. I like to use this shade on my lid or as an inner corner highlight. It provides just a subtle highlight to any look.

Pewter is a light frosted brown shadow. It goes on soft and creamy.

Garnet is a dark rich red copper shade with a metallic finish. It has great pigmentation and is such a gorgeous lid color.

Deep Purple is a shimmery satin dark purple. It is more of a black purple and contains fine micro shimmers. It goes on smoothly and is very pigmented.

Slate is a dark grey with a blue undertone. It applies buttery and has a rich pigmentation. It reminds me of gunmetal from the Urban Decay Naked Palette.
 

THE RUNDOWN
The Lorac Pro Palette is a great product to own or have in your pro kit for its quality, versatility and practicality. I think that is what you really are paying for since the amount of product in the palette isn't much compared to other palettes. For instance, the Urban Decay Naked Palette offers (12) shadows at .05oz each (total .60z) at around the same price. You are getting half the product with the Lorac Pro Palette.

Having the different matte and shimmer shadows all in one palette is a pro especially with the effortless application they offer.

Check out some of the looks I created using the Lorac Pro Palette.. and don't forget to follow me on Instagram (ShugaandSpice1) for more details and makeup inspiration!

Availability: Nordstrom / Ulta / Lorac
Price: $42

CHANEL Soleil Tan De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid Review

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid ($48) is described as a sheer, weightless liquid that instantly brightens your skin and evens out skin tone. The light reflecting pigments provide radiance and luminosity. Botanical extracts soften, smooth and moisturize. Oil free & fragrance free.

This micro-shimmer bronzer is great if you're looking for a subtle highlight to the skin. Many will appreciate the understated luminous glow that this product has to offer. It is absolutely beautiful when it hits the sunlight.

You can use the Sheer Illuminating Fluid on both the face and body. Use it on the high points of your face (cheekbones, temples, bridge of nose) for a small highlighted lift or mix it into your moisturizer or foundation for a radiant healthy glow to the skin.

It blends out well and its drying time allows for blending without resulting in patchiness. It can be used by all skin types. If you have oily skin you won't have to worry about it sliding, it will stay put.

Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid Swatched & Blended

Throughout the winter I've been using it as a highlight on the high points of my face and can't wait for the sunny days in spring and summer to add it into my foundation routine.

PACKAGING
If you're familiar with Chanel products you know that the high end brand doesn't skimp when it comes to packaging; they're known for their simple yet sexy luxurious design. The Sheer Illuminating Fluid comes in a glass bottle with a plastic twist cap. It is a bit difficult to pour some of the liquid out without spilling it on the sides of the opening since it has a thin consistency. I would have liked the convenience of a pump for the liquid especially considering how much you pay for it. And although the glass gives it a more luxurious touch, it is a bit heavy for this 1 oz bottle. This can be inconvenient for travel purposes.

The other downfall to the Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid is the lack of variety in color. It only comes in this "sunkissed" shade which may not be ideal for every skin tone. It works well for pale to medium skin tones but may not show as much on darker skin tones. 

The Rundown
This is a product that I do enjoy but I rarely reach for. Although it does provide a nice subtle glow to the cheeks when used as a highlighter but I prefer to save it for the summertime and use it for an overall glow by mixing it in with my foundation. It is a splurge item so a pump would have been nice. I do recommend it but only to those with lighter complexions.

Availability: Nordstrom / Chanel / Macys / Bloomingdales / Neiman Marcus
Price: $48 (1 oz)

What is your favorite liquid bronzer/highlighter?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade Review

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade ($18) is described as a waterproof brow color ideal for sculpting, defining, and carving perfectly precise brows that won't fade. Their smudge-free, creamy formula glides on skin and adheres to hair. It's a must have for oily skin and humid climates.

Dipbrow Pomade is available in (5) shades: blonde, auburn, chocolate, dark brown and ebony. New shades are to be released in the Fall of 2014. I own this pomade in blonde, auburn and chocolate.

The gel-like formula of this pomade allows for a smooth easy application that glides on without much effort. With its opaque pigmentation it is perfect for creating both bold and soft looking brows. The opacity will not only stay on your skin but your hairs as well, even if they are darker than the shade you're applying. Whatever look you're going for depends on the amount you apply and the technique you use.

For a softer natural brow look, use light hair-like strokes throughout your brow and make sure to blend out with a spoolie. It does set fairly quickly so I recommend working on one brow at a time. You will need to run a spoolie through your brow before the product dries.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomades (blonde, auburn, chocolate)

This brings me to its lasting power. Once the pomade has settled, it is STAYING PUT. The longest I've had it on has been for 14 hours without any smudging even after sleeping. (Yes, I know I shouldn't sleep with makeup on.. I usually don't, I just didn't have makeup remover readily available to me)

Water alone will not remove the pomade which is great for the summertime as it's sweat-proof! You will need to use an oil-based eye makeup remover or Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes work great. I try not to use eye makeup remover on my brows because I tend to get dry there and feel that the oil-based remover makes my skin even drier.

PACKAGING

Who isn't a sucker for beautiful packaging?! I know I am. These pomades come packaged in a clear glass pot and have black with rose gold accent plastic twist-off caps; reminiscent of the MAC paint pots. I like the easy accessibility to the product that these pots offer but feel that the packaging is a bit heavy and bulky for traveling. They aren't very hygienic (if you plan on using it in your pro kit) compared to the squeeze tube of MUFE Aqua Brow is and if not securely tightened, they can dry out.

Although much product is not needed to achieve a look, the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade only comes with 0.14oz of actual product. Whereas the MUFE Aqua Brow comes with more product at 0.23oz. It is comparable to the consistency of the Aqua Brow but I think the Dipbrow Pomade isa bit more pigmented.


SWATCHES

Swatches left to right: blonde, auburn, chocolate.

Blonde is an ash taupe made for blondes. I do wish it was a bit warmer though. I believe that a warmer shade for blondes will be released in the Fall. Blonde can also be used on darker hair to make your brows appear a bit lighter.

Auburn is a reddish warm brown. I am currently using this shade since it goes well with my hair color. Even if I haven't ligthened my brows (my natural hair color is black) it covers the hair very well.

Chocolate is a cool dark brown. I picked up this shade to add to my kit instead of ebony because it comes off pretty dark and figured I can always darken it on black hair with a shadow.

 

(Here I'm using Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Auburn on my brows)

Although there aren't many shades available you can mix them to create a desired color.

The Rundown
I'm really enjoying the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade and haven't been using anything else since. I love the formula and application of these as well as the lasting power. Not having to use more than one product on my brows is a major plus because it knocks down the time I have to spend on them. I wish the other shades would have come out in the initial launch of this product though; I would have picked up the upcoming shades instead of these.

Availability: Nordstrom / Ulta / Sephora / Anastasia Beverly Hills
Price: $18 (.14oz)