Review: Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette

I was actually not planning to get another vice palette after my dying interest in my Vice 1 palette with the exception of a couple shades. Seriously. But after seeing at the amazing jewel tone colors in the Vice 3 palette, I had to have it.

Product Range Name: Urban Decay: The Vice 3 Palette
Retail Price: $60
Amount: 0.8 g/0.03 oz. each
What is it? 20 piece Eyeshadow palette with duo sided eyeshadow brush and makeup bag.
Where to get it? Limited Edition at UD website, Sephora, and Ulta

Packaging: 7/10
The palette itself is thinner than the previous palettes (around 5 mm thinner). They also changed the opening mechanism. The Vice 3 is a magnetic closer, whereas the previous Vice and Vice 2 were latch closers that steadily rose the lid. It also comes with a large mirror the size of the lid.

On one hand, I do actually like the chrome silver/lime color scheme with the funky blur of colors on the front. Very sheek 80's. What I have a beef with is that it feels a ridiculously cheaper than its past version. It's made out of a really light cheap plastic that you would expect out of the drugstore. Also the "Vice" logo looks tacky. Maybe it's the font, but I would have much preferred the "UD" logo from the previous Vices, it just looks nicer font-wise and as a "jewel" like embellishment.

Truth: Pink toned matte creme. 

Undone: Cool toned matte beige.

Downfall: Matte medium brown.

DTF: Matte Taupe.

This column is composed of an array of great basic blending out shades, which are must haves in anyone's eyeshadow collection. All shades are pigmented and smooth. My only gripe with these is that they are super powdering. Very lightly dip your brush in and you almost kick up dust. Thankfully these are pretty light shades for the powderyness to not be a big deal fallout-wise.

Dragon: Metallic spring green.

Freeze: Frosty sky blue with white glitter

Heroine: Matte navy with blue sparkle

Brokendown: Shimmery golden bronze

Vanity: Shimmery dark purple

Lucky: Metallic orange-based gold. This one of the most pigmented in the palette.

Reign: Brown shimmer with a pink iridescence

Bobby Dazzle: Frosty white with gold shimmer

Alien:  Medium pink pearl with a gold sheen

Alchemy: Magenta Pearl with a lavender sheen

Bondage: Blackened purple with red/pink shimmer. Another huge pigment winner.

Sonic: Metallic coppery red

Last Sin: Champagne shimmer with white sparkle

Angel: Taupe shimmer with white sparkle

Defy: Matte dark grey

Revolver: Black with navy shimmer


Extras:

Brush: Its a double ended brush, much like the last brushes that came in the past Vices. One side is a dense C-shape shadow brush and the other is a sparsely packed bending brush. Its just inconvenient to store.

Bag: It's a well made bag and could probably fit the smaller tablets, but its not padded at all so maybe just makeup is the way to go for the bag. Wish they traded the bags for better palette material.

Overall:

Definitely better quality eyeshadow wise than the first Vice palette.  Bondage and Lucky are the most pigmented. Angel is pretty sheer in pigment and Defy is a bit uneven too. Packaging quality is a thumbs down. Shadow-wise this is a pretty good well rounded palette.Great for beginners because it has matte blend/highlight shades, shimmery neutrals, and jewel tone shadows to shake things up. Would make a great holiday gift.

Target $7 Sample Box

Ahhhhh. Remember those good old times when these sample boxes/bags from target were free. *Cough*  Plus a couple other times that I never actually posted. I'm assuming due to the craziness that those bags created and the money lost from making so many, Target finally decided to start charging for them. Welcome to the $7 Beauty Sample Box. Still is a good deal though. 

What's inside?

L'orealColour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color in 103 Blushing Harmony: 
Full-size. To be honest, I didn't even realize L'oreal came out with a new line of liquid lipsticks. It looks like a nice rosey color, but its actually a very My-Lips-But-Better color, for me. It's thicker, but not sticky. Has a sight fruity smell and taste, but thankfully, it's not sweet. I hate that in lip products. This seems to also be quite moisturizing. 

Laneige BB Cushion Samples: 
I actually received this in an Ipsy a while ago too. The concept is interesting. It's essentially a makeup soaked sponge. I'm not entirely sold on the antibacterial sponge aspect they are talking about. This comes with 3 sample shades of BB cushion and a SPF 50 sunscreen.

Nyx Jumbo Pencil in Milk: 
Full-size. Seriously still a staple for me. Great white sticky base for brighter colors, though its downside is that you can't wear it on it's own like many other jumbo eyeshadow pencils on the market or it will be a creasy mess.

L'oreal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray:

This is the 2.2 oz travel version. This products has a huge cult following. I've always wanted to try it out, but I could never justify the price with how often I hardly style my hair. I have heard this isn't "crunchy" or have a powder white residue and is flexible with styling.

Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo: 

This is the 1.7 oz travel verson. I'm always into finding a good dry shampoo. Every time I use dry shampoo, it end up being a powdery white and undesirable mess and end up washing my hair to get it out anyways. Hopefully this is alright. *crosses fingers*  

*Also comes with a $3 off a $15 beauty purchase from Target and the coupon code LOVEBEAUTY to Dermstore.com for 20% off and Free Shipping with a complementary gift. *

Overall:
Great value. The liquid lipstick alone would've went over the box price. I didn't expect to actually look into this, but it was lovely. Also, very happy they don't hide which products you receive in the box. It's nice to gear the value and decide if it's worth it on the spot nowadays with all these mystery boxes on the market.

Ipsy: 2014 August Bag

Here's the August 2014 Ipsy Bag:

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara:

As excited as I always am for trying Urban Decay products, I never use mascara. My lashes just seem too short for any mascaras making a notable difference.

Coastal Scents Forever Blush:
A matte peachy brown and rose with shimmer. They're nice and velvety. The sizes of these are so tiny, but you can definitely get a bunch of uses out of it.

Lord and Berry Mini Kajal Kohl-liner in Black Silk:
It's a matte soft black, so not intense black by any means. Goes on smoothly, but the formula seems to be like a typical basic kohl liner from the drugstore that lives short n the eyes and smudges.

Dr. Brant Pores No More:
It's a pore refining primer that is tinted. This primer feels so buttery and velvety smooth. The sample size is great too at 0.25 fl oz.

Absolute You're The Balm in Green Apple:
The product is actually a light red color and gives a extremely sheer tint, which is nice. I was expecting this to feel thick and like Vaseline, but I'm pleasantly surprised the texture is silky smooth and light. The scent is lovely too.

Ipsy Bag:
It's a typical pencil case made of plastic. Definitely a back to school themed bag. Not a fan. really cheap.

Overall:
3 out of 5
Not a fan of the liner and the bag. The blush's sizes seem too inconvenient to properly test out. The lip balm was a nice surprise. Urban decay is always welcome and the Dr. Brant Primer seems lovely.

Review: Kao Liese Prettia Hair Dye in Sweet Apricot

Back in December when my roots were growing in after using Cassis Berry, I thought I was ready to go a step lighter and try Liese Prettia Sweet Apricot. 

Comes with:
Hair Dye
Developer in bottle
Foaming pump
Gloves
Conditioner

Directions:
Add the little black bottle(hair dye) to the Transparent bottle of Developer.
Cap it.
Do NOT shake. Gently flip upside down 5-6 times.
Replace white lid with pink pump.
Spread through hair.
Wait 30-40 minutes.
Wash and add Conditioner.

(Fluorescent lighting)

A orangey light brown or very auburn. I'd say it turned out very close to the color result on the box.

Positives:
Not damaging. Seriously, None.
Did lighten my hair and matched closely with box results.
Even color.
The Foam was easy to use and no crazy drippy mess.
Had more than enough to spread in my hair.

Negatives:
Smell. Has a chemical scent, but so does every hair dye. 
Some areas of my roots became a bright orange. Assuming it is due to the heat from the scalp lifting the hair color faster. It's nothing too ridiculous though.

(Top right: Direct Sunlight, Middle right: Natural indoor)

Overall:
5 out of 5
The packaging is way too good. The formula is not damaging, easy to use, mess free, and even. The color didn't seem to fade much. I'm telling you, Kao and/or Japan's hair dye game is on point. Definitely a future repurchase.