Not Makeup: Fabulous $5 Paparazzi Jewelry Party!

Hi everyone! I've been out of touch due to wicked work issues: I'm editing a book on the atmosphere and the ionosphere written in what I call "Russlish, i.e., English by Russian authors whose are not native English speakers. It's been a tough job, but it's almost over, and I've learned a lot of things about "star jelly" and "ball lightning."

Paparazzi snap bracelet

I've also been scooping up Paparazzi jewelry especially because it's cute, it's fashionable, and it's only $5.00 per piece!

I'm having an online Paparazzi jewelry party on Facebook tomorrow night through Saturday morning, and you are all invited to attend. I'll be present at the party tomorrow night from 6:30 to 8:30 pm EST and would love to be able to interact there with some of my readers, but you can shop the party at any time from 6:30 pm on Thursday (tomorrow) through Saturday morning. It's a lot of fun, addictive even (it's that darn low $5.00 per-piece cost!).

Paparazzi short necklace

Don't forget that this is a great time to pick up Mother's Day gifts, birthday gifts, graduation gifts, gifts for First Communioners, and gifts for yourself (like for summer vacation), LOL. Paparazzi even has children's jewelry!

How the party works:

*This is a completely ONLINE party! Click "going", then check in during May 1 to 3 as jewelry photos are posted. Here's the link to my Facebook party page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1490160837864222/?ref=notif&notif_t=plan_user_joined.

Paparazzi pendant necklace

* Want an item? Comment "sold" and it's yours! Have a question on an item? Comment "sold, pending answer" . . . then ask your question . . .
 
*For most items, only one piece is available. So if you see something you want, you have to be fast in leaving your "sold" comment! Photos I've posted here may not represent jewely available at the party, but you can be guarateed the will be jewelry of equal fabulosity :-)

*When the party is over, my Paparazzi rep will send you an invoice to your email address (which you pm to her). You can pay with a debit/credit card or even your PayPal account.

*Shipping cost: Shipping is $3 for the first item and $.25 cents for each item thereafter, not to exceed $5.50 total.

Paparazzi bracelet

*Watch for contests throughout the party to win free jewelry ;)

Hope to see you there, and happy shopping!

Paparazzi hair clip/pin

Mascar Smackdown Part One: Avon Mega Effects Photo Review

Hi all,

I recently attempted, for my own more objective benefit, to take photos of my eyelashes in various states of "dress" with the different mascaras I currently have in my train case. I usually only have two, maybe three, in rotation at any given time; E.L.F. Mineral Mascara is my current holy Grail mascara. I prefer volume and definition over length because I don't like the feel of my lashed brushing again my glass lenses. I also prefer brown or brown/black mascara over straight black because I think that black is too harsh and unnatural on my fair skin tone. I'm judging the current resulting photos, as well as others to come in future reviews, on just volume and definition and not color because most of them didn't come in brown or were "extras" from Sephora, which always seem to come in black!

In total, the mascaras being considered are Avon Mega Effects Mascara in Brown Black, Cover Girl Flamed Out Mascara in Black Brown Blaze, Stila Glamoureyes Mascara in Black, Bare Escentuals Buxom Mascara in Black (the URL shows waterproof, but I tested non-waterproof), and E.L.F. Studio Mineral Infused Mascara in Black (the only color it comes in). In no case did I use an eyelash primer before or mascara comb after application.

First up is Avon Mega Effects Mascara. My final review of the mascaras tested will come at the end of the comparisons after I've evaluated all of the "entrants." Having said that, I rather like how this mascara looked on my eye lashes. Stay tuned for future installments!

Avon Mega Effects Mascara closed

Avon Mega Effects Mascara with cap off

Avon Mega Effects Mascara out of its alien casing, LOL

Flat-side view of Mega Effects brush

Side view of Mega Effects brush

Full-on view of Mega Effects brush

Angled view of Mega Effects brush (this is the angle I usually apply at)

My bare lashes

Lashes after applying Avon Mega Effects Mascara

Both sets of lashes after applying Avon Mega Effects Mascara

And Now for Some Aromaleigh Goodness: Ignitus Antiquita

Just to make it up to you for my unexplained absence, here's a "mini-post" on two colors from Aromaleigh's newest eyeshadow collection, Ignitus Antiquita (Latin for Ancient Fire). This collection was inspired by strong and fierce women forgotten by history (if it had been "herstory," it would have been different!). The first two colors I am featuring here are Boudicca (AD 60 or 61 Celtic warrior) and Tomoe (12th-century samurai warrior). I won six full-size eyeshadows from Aromaleigh for participating in FanCrank (I was the top fan for January 2014), and these colors are two of the six I chose for my prize.

Left =  Boudicca; left = Tomoe.

Noella Frankens

Oh, dear Lord; I can't believe it's been slightly more than a month since I've posted a review. I'm so sorry to have disappeared on you like that. We had some power outages due to the extreme snow and ice in Pennsylvania, which meant I had to scramble to make up lost work time. Then a family member had a health crisis, which meant I had a lot of care-taking and household running to do. It all just grabbed me with pointy fangs and wouldn't let go. I'm starting to come down from the "anxiety tree" now and feel like my
head is clear enough to write now, so here goes.

Left = Dark Chocolate + Honey Taupe, + Maple Cream; right = Sugared Plum + Rose Gold

In my last post, about Noella Beauty, I mentioned that I made two "frankens" from combining colors that were either too light or too dark for me, and I thought you might like to see them. Since I already reviewed the product in my last review, I'll dispense from reviewing again here except to say that I really like the colors I created. They both came out very "glowy." Hope you enjoy the photos!

Left = Dark Chocolate + Honey Taupe, + Maple Cream; right = Sugared Plum + Rose Gold

 

Noella Beauty

Product: Eyeshadow samples.

Where did I buy this? I bought five eyeshadow samples from Noella Beauty on etsy.com. Two shades were included as "extras." The colors I bought were as follows (and are swatched below in the same alphabetical order): Dark Chocolate (extra), Honey Taupe (extra), Julep, Maple Cream, Pink Smoke, Rose Gold, and Sugared Plum. Here is what the product amount look like in the jar.

Tops (clear) of the colors in alphabetical name order.

Color name and ingredient labels are on the bottom of the jars.

Price and size: $2.39/generous jarred sample, no sifter cap. Sample size is approximately .5 g in a sealed 3-g jar.

Approximate amount of product in a sample.

Packaging: Although I don't usually post pics of the entire product packaging, this was so pretty I have to share it! This is what was inside the bubble mailer . . . pretty, huh?

Pretty packaging!

Inside, the sample jars were sealed for safety with a dab of tape.

Performance: Excellent over both UDPP or Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy: All shades lasted all day with no touch-ups needed. I have someone dry skin, so eyeshadow never creases on me. YMMV, however, especially if you have oily skin/lids.

Swatched in alphabetical order over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy under natural light.

Swatched in alphabetical order over Pixie Epoxy under incandescent lighting.

If I lost or broke this item, would I buy it again? The eyeshadows from Noella are generally lower-key than I prefer, but since Noella is such an established name in the indie galaxy, I had to try them just so I'd have some familiarity with their product. Yes, some of the colors I would definitely replace. However, some colors were too light, too matte, or too dark on me, so I probably would not replace those shades. I ended up frankening together (1) the Rose Gold and Sugared Plum as well as (2) the Dark Chocolate, Maple Cream, and Honeyed Taupe to make two new colors that were more wearable for me. Pink Smoke (most shimmery) and Julep (a beautiful duochrome) were my favorites :-)

Overall rating: 5 of 5 lippies!