Polishes -Orly - First Kiss
BCbabe 3/12/2013 1:20:00 PM
I just purchased this shade recently in the newer bottle (black cap). It was between this as Prelude to a Kiss but I got this one because in the store it looked a little 'cleaner' (Prelude looked a teensy bit dustier?). I wonder if the shade has varied over the years because other reviews mention it as a pale pink cream but mine is definitely a pale sheerish peach that works really nicely with my skintone. I applied 2 coats and maybe could have done 3 but 2 was fine. It's almost a jelly cream in that it almost looks squishy and I can still slightly see my nail BUT it's ok because I find the Orly formula is easy to apply smoothly and/or it levels itself out really well. They also seem to dry pretty fast. I top it with Beauty Secrets Nail Hardener and Out the Door. I just really love how fresh and clean it looks. For reference, mine looks like the swatch on PolishAholic's blog and not like the one posted here.
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Polishes -China Glaze - Hologlam in Cosmic Dust
BCbabe 3/7/2013 4:46:00 PM
I managed to get a few the day they came into my favorite beauty supply (sadly, professionals only) and Cosmic Dust was the first one I tried and I'll do my best to address any issues that I've read about. First off, Cosmic Dust is not identical to OMG. It's like comparing silver to pewter so they are definitely not dupes. It's true that the Hologlams don't look as 'holo-y' as the OMG collection in the bottle but the holo effect definitely transfers to the nail. TheCherylFlavour's blog pics are worth looking at because for Cosmic Dust, they are accurate, and they look even better in person. Another observation is that I think the Hologlams might have an even finer pigment than they OMGs. At least to my eye, side by side, the Hologlams looks smoother. Maybe that's why they appear slightly metallic? I don't mind it though because it makes the holo look even more solid, if that makes sense. One blog reports brush strokes but you seriously won't see these with the naked eye. I can barely see any using a magnifying glass. I think because of the smoothness of the pigment, these show *every* little bump on the nail. In that way, they are not forgiving, so if you choose to forgo any base coats, smooth nails give the best results. If you do use a base coat, you will definitely need an "aqua base" (like NFU Oh's or any other base for holos). Unlike the CC Halo Hues, these need it badly. I tried to apply it over my regular base and the balding and pulling was so bad I stopped after 3 nails and had to start over with the aqua base. I used 2 coats of Cosmic Dust which gave complete opacity. On another good note, top coats do NOT hurt the holo effect. I use both Beauty Secrets Nail Hardener topped with Out the Door and no negative effect whatsoever. With a base and topcoat, I'm so far at 4 days and no chipping. I know there have been mixed thoughts and reviews about these but I'm super happy with my first impression.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Burgundy
BCbabe 1/21/2013 7:26:00 PM
Another shade that scared me but I got it anyways. Burgundy is warmer than it's name says. Imagine mixing rust and wine and that better describes this one. I'm surprised this works as well as it does for me, but copper/rust shades are supposed to bring out blue eyes. This one works nicely with it's deeper sister, Black Plum, which is a bit 'brick-ier' and less rusty. What makes them so workable is possibly the fact that even though they're very smooth and pigmented, they're also a bit powdery so blending and sheering out is easy, though you could layer for depth too.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Black Plum
BCbabe 1/21/2013 7:21:00 PM
Imagine mixing brick with wine and that's what this shade looks like. Or perhaps what the colour of black plum jam would be, given the deep amber flesh mixed with the dark purple red skin? (Forgive my weird imagination, LOL!) I read all the reviews and saw that none of the reviewers had my skin tone or hair and eye colouring, but I got it anyways and it's surprisingly wearable! Warmish shades like this, provided they work with your skin tone, are great for blue eyes. It works well with it's lighter and brighter sister, Burgundy. Ben Nye shadows are quite smooth and pigmented, but because they're a smidge powdery, they're easier to blend than most mattes.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Twilight Blue
BCbabe 1/21/2013 7:13:00 PM
Twilight Blue seems to look brighter and lighter in the pan than it applies. it's a deep marine blue so it leans ever so slightly to the green side, kind of like Lancôme's Black Lapis eye kohl, though not as dark. Ben Nye matte shadows are nicely pigmented and smooth, but with enough powdery feel to keep them from 'grabbing' like a lot of mattes tend to do. I love how easy to work with these are.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Eggplant
BCbabe 1/21/2013 7:05:00 PM
Eggplant is redder than I'd imagine a real eggplant to be. It's more of a deep rich wine burgundy with perhaps a hint of purple? It depends on the lighting... :) Dark enough to be used as a liner or a smokey eye. Quite pretty. Ben Nye shadows are quite smooth and pigmented, but they have enough powdery feel to make them some of the easiest mattes to blend (which is particularly important for deep shades like this one). One of my favorites.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Crushed Grape
BCbabe 1/21/2013 6:59:00 PM
Crushed Grape is a red based, almost magenta matte purple. I imagine it would be stunning on green eyes! Ben Nye matte shadows are pigmented and smooth though slightly powdery, which makes them easier than most mattes to blend.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Deep Violet
BCbabe 1/21/2013 6:49:00 PM
Deep Violet really isn't that deep. I'd say more of a medium to medium deep, slightly muted/smokey violet so it's not a 'bright' shade. Violeta is deeper and richer but they'd work well together. Ben Nye shadows are nicely pigmented and smooth, but there is enough of a powdery feel to make them some of the easiest mattes you'll ever try to blend.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Violeta
BCbabe 1/21/2013 6:40:00 PM
Violeta *might* be discontinued though there may still be a few floating around on a few theatrical sites. As mentioned below, this is a "purple" purple. No pinks, reds or berries, just a beautiful med deep purple matte. Ben Nye matte shadows are smooth with just enough powdery feel to make them easy to blend. They don't stick and grab like most other mattes, but they don't lack pigment either.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Twilight Sable
BCbabe 1/21/2013 6:34:00 PM
Mmmm.... Twilight Sable is like the shade of rich deep dark chocolate. Really nicely pigmented and great for a smokey eye. Ben Nye mattes are smooth and just a tiny bit powdery which helps make them easy to blend. It does seem like the lighter shades are the most powdery and the deeper ones less so, but still, as far as mattes go, easy to work with. For reference, Twilight Sable is deeper than Espresso and Rich Suede, but not as dark as Black Brown, though still very dark.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Espresso Pressed Eye Shadow
BCbabe 1/21/2013 6:26:00 PM
Espresso is a med deep neutral brown. Perfect for the crease or outter corner (depending on the look you're after). I find the Ben Nye mattes to be smooth, nicely pigmented and slightly powdery which makes them easy to blend and great to work with.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Rich Suede
BCbabe 1/21/2013 5:35:00 PM
Compared to my other Ben Nye browns, Rich Suede has a *very* slight plummy tone, though you might not even see it unless you put it against other browns. It's a beautiful rich medium deep brown (with that tiny hint of purple or red) that keeps it out of the 'golden' range. Nice pigment as well. I find Ben Nye shadows to be smooth but a tiny bit powdery which aids in blending. For mattes, they're really nice to work with.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Honey
BCbabe 1/21/2013 5:29:00 PM
Honey is a light peachy nude shade. Reminds me of MAC Arena but in matte form and I really like this (as well as Au Naturelle) as a base shade for evening out my eyelid. This one is warmer whereas Au Naturelle is very neutral. Smooth and nicely pigmented. As with pretty much all of the Ben Nye matte shades, this is smooth and a tiny bit powdery which greatly aids in blending. In fact, if you have a matte from another line that's gnarly to work with, try blending it over a Ben Nye shadow and it won't 'grab' as much. Because if the light peachy tones in this one, it could even be used as a blush on lighter skintones.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Banana
BCbabe 1/21/2013 5:20:00 PM
You know that ubiquitous "Ben Nye Banana Visage Poudre Luxury Powder" that Ben Nye is so famous for? This is the same shade in eyeshadow form! If you have need of counteracting any redness on your eyelids, this puppy might be for you. In my experience, Ben Nye mattes shades have a tendency to be smooth but a little powdery which makes for easier blending. This one (as I'm finding with most light shades) is more on the sheer side as well, so it may work for specific highlight areas when the "Banana Powder" is too messy to use.
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Toast
BCbabe 1/21/2013 5:13:00 PM
Toast is a pale yellowed ivory or an off white with a yellow tint. It's a bit on the sheer side, not super opaque, and makes for a nice highlight shade that isn't as stark as white. I find Ben Nye shadows to be smooth but a little powdery but also very easy to blend which isn't always the case with mattes.
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