***April Empties***

Sex and the City in Lust

Soap & Glory Original Pink & Sugar Crush

Face Sheet Masks

No. 7 Melting Gel Cleanser

Spa Haus Body Wash

Retin A

Too Faced Peach Perfect Mattifying Powder

Benefit Porefessional Primer

Wednesday Haul - O - Day: Skin Care Haul

***Bi-Monthly Review, Rate, Rotate***Weeks 15 & 16***

Rating is out 10 out of 10, with a full point given for each of the ten sections listed above. Points per section may be issued in the following denominations: 0,.0 .25, .50, 1.0. For further clarification, the sections listed are worth a total of 1.0 point and are:

1. Company Profile & Personality: (available information about the company, cruelty-free status information, philanthropic efforts, unnecessary controversy, indie company vs mainstream)
2. Price: (product cost, availability of product, shipping cost, available coupons)
3. Purchase Process: (order time vs receipt of product turn around, availability of product, email notifications including shipping & tracking number, email notification for delivery)
4. Packaging: (was the item securely package, decorative packaging efforts including information card about the product, upcoming sales, or the company itself)
5. Pigmentation: (via swatches)
6. Color Payoff: (via application to the area applicable)
7. Product Application: (ease of application of the product, for example for eyeshadow, is there fall out, creasing, etc.
8. Performance: (longevity of wear)
9. Product Value: (price to product amount ratio, i.e. price per gram + product quality + consumer response (popularity of the product and consumer response) + repurchase option)
10. Overall Product Presentation: shade variation (if eyeshadow), women of color friendly, pale people friendly, universally applicable to many skin tones, desire for repeated use, would you repurchase the item again, is this product associated with a particular trend or is does it market the companies individuality, does the product set a new & innovative trend, is the product effective (does it do what it’s designed to do), does the product have potential multiple application opportunities (i.e. can the product be used as a blush & lipstick), is the product limited edition or a permanent product, is the product part of a collection, is the product consistent (from shade to shade, if an eyeshadow palette) from color to color in a part of a collection and does it function and operate the same each time applied.

Anything that I rotate out of my collection, and I am not giving away to friends or family, you can find on Mercari @ BougieBrie or Poshmark @ InfluencerBrie !

Reviewing the Following Week's Products

Week 15

Natasha Denona Palette 5

REVIEW: There are many opinions about Natasha Denona's eyeshadows. It seems as though people are on polar opposite spectrums in terms of their regard for the brand's eyeshadows. Anyone who knows me and my collection are aware that I am a die hard ND fan. I have no shame in the amount of ND eyeshadow palettes I have and the fact that I paid full price for all of them. Hands down the best eyeshadows in the business and well-worth the expense. If you are not a fan, just try one of five pan palettes like above, you will be more than surprised.

RATE: 10/10 What did you expect?

ROTATE: Um, no....just...no

Tarte Golden Goddess & Maybelline Master Chrome In Molten Gold

REVIEW: (a) Tarte, for the most part, has excellent face products and I think they are reasonably priced, especially if you can catch them on sale on the Tarte website. I wasn't particularly excited about this product, though. It's not terrible, but I wouldn't say it is worth the full price. If you wait a while after the release of Tarte products, they often go on sale as the season ends on all platforms, including Sephora & Ulta. (b) Was super pleased with this product. For a drugstore highlighter, it definitely outperforms many high-end brands. It's not too powdery and it lasts a reasonable amount of time.

RATE: 6.75/10 (a) Tarte's powder products are usually very promising and great on the skin, but outside of the magnificent packaging, this left much to be desired. (b) 8.5/10 Just an excellent drugstore highlighter. Well worth the money, and if I am correct it's under $10. Out performs the Tarte highlighter and lasts much longer. Great product!

ROTATE: (a) I think I will keep this in my collection a little longer, but most likely will be sold on Poshmark orMercari. (b) Love this product and I am looking to keep it around for awhile.

Tarte Blush in Parrrty

REVIEW: Earlier when I spoke about Tarte's face products, I was really speaking of their blushes, which by most standards are incredible. Pigmented yet buildable and probably the best high-end blushes in the business.

RATE: 9/10 I took a point off for two reasons. One - Tarte always kills it with their packaging but has the lamest packaging for their blushes and Two - Although I think these are the best high-end blushes, I have blushes from affordable & drugstore brands that work just as well for me.

ROTATE: I will be keeping all my Tarte blushes!

Makeup Revolution Shimmer Brick

REVIEW: This was the first product I reviewed on my blog several years ago and my feelings are still pretty much the same. The least expensive highlighter around with the best results. Absolutely unnecessary to purchase high-end highlighters when you can get this one for $5 - $7 bucks.

RATE: 9.5/10 Loses half a point for packaging, but seriously the best highlighter for the price.

ROTATE: Will be working to pan this highlighter!

Week 15

It Cosmetics Superhero Eyeshadow Palette

REVIEW: I was excited about this palette when I purchased it but after using it one time I realized that it doesn't have the pigmentation and foil shades that I like. It definite perfect for everyday makeup for your 9 am - 5 pm, but it's not the palette for me!

RATE: 6.75/10 Truly is a beautiful palette with excellent shades, but it doesn't suit me or my lifestyle at this time. It's very soft and blends well, but I took points off mostly because it just doesn't grab my attention.

ROTATE: Look for this on my Mercari or Poshmark

Coastal Scents Custom Built Palette

REVIEW:  I happen to like Coastal Scents single shadows. I think for the price, and the simplicity of what they offer, their shadows are perfect for beginners, or even MUA's starting out and building their kit. I have a wide selection of these shadows, but if I am honest, I really don't use them much, which is the point of my Semi-Weekly Rotation schedule. This custom built palette is similar to the Winterberry Palette from the brand, so logically one of them have to go.

RATE: 7.25/10 I think these are more than decent shadows for someone who is new at eyeshadow and wants a large selection for a low price. If you keep up with the Coastal Scents you can catch their $0.99 singles sale! Are they the best shadows on the market, no, I don't think so, but are they extremely affordable with a ridiculous selection featuring over 200 shades, yes, they are!

ROTATE: I mentioned that I own the Winterberry Palette from Coastal Scents, which is quite similar to the palette I have built. I am thinking that I will pass along the Winterberry Palette or sell it (Mercari/Poshmark)! So, this one will stay around!

Lorac Ladies Who Brunch Eyeshadow Palette

REVIEW: I cannot accurately evaluate this palette because I only used one shade from it, so it will go into an upcoming rotation! Stay Tuned!

Colourpop My Little Pony Eyeshadow Palette

REVIEW: I love this palette. As many of you know I am a huge Colourpop fan! This is a very fun palette and I personally think it's better than the PUR Cosmetics My Little Pony Palette! It is the perfect colorful palette for the upcoming Spring & Summer seasons. Just an adorable palette, with shades you can use in the office or on the beach!

RATE: 10/10 Colourpop Super Fan from the quality of the shadows to the whimsical packaging. Definitely a home run!

ROTATION: Love this palette and all Colourpop pressed shadows. Staying with me!

Persona Cosmetics Identity Eyeshadow Palette

REVIEW: One of the best palettes of 2017! This palette comes from a popular influencer named Sona. I actually got this palette when it first came out last year due to a little tip from YouTube. The palette has wonderful neutral to warm toned and a fantastic matte to shimmer ratio. The palette is perfect for every day looks as well as for an evening look where you want to smoke out your lower last line or outer v. 

RATE: 10/10 Unique image work out the outer part of the packaging which is slim and compact, perfect for travel or to throw in your purse. Beautiful universally flattering shades for many tones that are pigmented and blend well. The perfect palette for the work day or for a young beginner with ease to maneuver quality shadows. 

ROTATE: Have no intention of getting rid of this palette and quite happy I snatched my palette up before it hit mainstream stores.

***Semi Monthly Palette & Product Rotation***Weeks 18 & 19***

Week 18

Kat Von D Sinner & Saint Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Crown Cosmetics Glam Metals Eyeshadow Palette

Okalan The Fancy Eyeshadow Palette

Week 19

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume III

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette

City Color Warm Apricot Blush & Soap and Glory Peach Party Blush

AOA Highlighter from ShopMissA & The Balm CindyLou Minizers 

Sunday Haul - O - Day: Poshmark - One Hell of a Haul @ Ridiculously Low Price

I love shopping online with Poshmark. It's very rare that I have an issue or problem that isn't resolved in a timely manner. I am a little apprehensive about buying luxury brands, like Marc Jacobs, from perfect strangers, but over my years of online shopping, I have become an expert at detecting when something isn't authentic, so I usually operate with confidence regarding my purchases. I scored these three Marc Jacob Icon Style Eyeshadow Palettes for the insanely low price of $40 ....for ALL three. They are indeed authentic and what's even more remarkable is that they have never been used, not even swatched. The two longer palettes complete my Marc Jacobs Style Icon 7 Series collection and I am happy to have them. I am equally happy to have it's little brother, and it's cousin, made by Saucebox

Poshmark - Marc Jacobs & Saucebox

Saucebox!!

Marc Jacobs - The Lolita

Marc Jacobs - The Lover

Marc Jacobs - The Mod

Bi Monthly Review, Rate, & Rotate (Weeks 13 &14)

Rating is out 10 out of 10, with a full point given for each of the ten sections listed above. Points per section may be issued in the following denominations: 0,.0 .25, .50, 1.0. For further clarification, the sections listed are worth a total of 1.0 point and are:

1. Company Profile & Personality: (available information about the company, cruelty-free status information, philanthropic efforts, unnecessary controversy, indie company vs mainstream)
2. Price: (product cost, availability of product, shipping cost, available coupons)
3. Purchase Process: (order time vs receipt of product turn around, availability of product, email notifications including shipping & tracking number, email notification for delivery)
4. Packaging: (was the item securely package, decorative packaging efforts including information card about the product, upcoming sales, or the company itself)
5. Pigmentation: (via swatches)
6. Color Payoff: (via application to the area applicable)
7. Product Application: (ease of application of the product, for example for eyeshadow, is there fall out, creasing, etc.
8. Performance: (longevity of wear)
9. Product Value: (price to product amount ratio, i.e. price per gram + product quality + consumer response (popularity of the product and consumer response) + repurchase option)
10. Overall Product Presentation: shade variation (if eyeshadow), women of color friendly, pale people friendly, universally applicable to many skin tones, desire for repeated use, would you repurchase the item again, is this product associated with a particular trend or is does it market the companies individuality, does the product set a new & innovative trend, is the product effective (does it do what it’s designed to do), does the product have potential multiple application opportunities (i.e. can the product be used as a blush & lipstick), is the product limited edition or a permanent product, is the product part of a collection, is the product consistent (from shade to shade, if an eyeshadow palette) from color to color in a part of a collection and does it function and operate the same each time applied. 

Reviewing the Following Week's Products

Week 13

Urban Decay Afterdark Eyeshadow Palette 

REVIEW: This is a wonderful jewel-toned palette from Urban Decay. I consider this the grungy little sister to the Urban Decay Electric Eyeshadow Palette, which is the neon bright pressed pigment palette that was abruptly discontinued a while back. Similar to the Electric Palette, the Afterdark Palette is quite pigmented and the application on the eyes is true to color. 

RATE: 8.5/10 I really enjoyed this palette and although it was limited edition, I'm hoping Urban Decay will bring back this palette and it's brighter sister, the Electric Palette. 

ROTATE: This beauty is staying with me. 

Urban Decay Distortion Eyeshadow Palette 

REVIEW: Unlike the Afterdark Palette above, this palette was a complete disappointment. Purchased during Holiday 2017, the palette claims to have a row of transforming shades along the top of the palette with richly pigmented shades in the two subsequent rows. I will say that I only used this palette one time but I didn't find the transforming shades appealing or useful. The shades in the two following rows were well selected and pigmented, but the combination of the shades in the lower two rows and any of the shades in the first one were extremely disappointing. 

RATE: 5.5/10 Urban Decay is known for their innovative color schemes and stepping outside the box however, this palette left much to be desired. The score the palette is receiving is strictly based on the lower two rows. The palette receives major deductions for not delivering what is promised. It's unfortunate because the palette's concept is interesting. 

ROTATE: I am trying to determine if this palette should go on "probation" or if it should be sold on my poshmark. 

Beauty Bakerie Neapolitan Eyescream Eyeshadow Palette 

REVIEW: I really wanted to like this palette, in particular because it was created by a black owned makeup brand (BOMB), however, it was mediocre at best. Very plain and uneventful color story that really didn't cater to deeper skin color, which I would hope a black owned makeup brand would be specifically interested in providing to its customer base. 

RATE: 5/10 As a woman of color that wanted to support a new company created for and by people of color, I found this palette uninspiring and below average in quality and pigmentation. Sorry, I'm just keeping it 100. The palette wasn't that good, it packed creativity and it definitely lacked an eagerness to relate to people of color. 

ROTATE: This is currently listed on my Poshmark and Mercari

Too Faced I Want Kandee Eyeshadow Palette 

REVIEW: This is a very simple palette with a summary of wonderful neutral tones perfect for a variety of skin tones. This is one the best palettes Too Faced produced in 2017. Some may call it plain, but it definitely has tones suitable for day and evening looks. 

RATE: 8/10 I really appreciate this collaboration between Kandee Johnson and Too Faced. This is one of the more promising high end mainstream collaborations of 2017. Too Faced really ended the year with several knock out punches, and this eyeshadow palette was one of them. 

ROTATE: This palette is staying put with me for the time being. 

Week 14

Sephora Pro Pigment Palette In Editorial 

REVIEW: This was a rather pricey palette but it contains a more than fair amount of product. Since I am a huge fan of Urban Decay'Electric Palette, I wasn't sure how the Sephora Pro Pigment Palette In Editorial was going to compare. After all, how many bright palettes does one gal need? I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this palette. Very pigmented and equally blendable. Long lasting and perfect combination of vibrant colors. 

RATE: 8.5/10 The palette lost a couple of points for lack of imagination with packaging as well as bulky packaging. I appreciate the heftiness of the palette but it's a tad too heavy. Also, the palette is a little too expensive for the history of the brand's quality. 

ROTATE: I really enjoyed this palette and as I make choices about palettes I want to continue using, this is definitely one of them. 

Kat Von D Monarch Eyeshadow Palette 

REVIEW: I LOVE THIS PALETTE! This one of my top five eyeshadow in my collection, and since I have over five hundred eyeshadow palettes that is saying a lot about this palette. Beautiful color story, superb quality and pigmentation, suitable for man skin tones and eye colors, and a significant amount of product for the original MSRP.. You just cannot beat this palette. 

RATE: 10/10 Again, one of my top five palettes. I am not necessarily a warm toned person, but the rust and champange gold colors look great against my skin. 

ROTATE: Not a chance in hell! This is staying with me until it is completely panned.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna Palette

REVIEW: I got this palette off of Poshmark for a fraction of the MSRP. The palette was well taken care of it and has some very unique and interesting shades. It came with a lookbook to help you navigate and product interesting looks. This palette has more of my shades and I appreciate it more than the Modern Renaissance. 

RATE: 7/10 This is definitely an oldie but goodie. A solid performing palette and a throwback. to ABH's earlier line.

ROTATE: This will stay in for another rotation and then I will look at passing it on to a friend or selling it

J Cat Beauty Melrose Eyeshadow Palette

REVIEW: I have learned over time that purples look awesome against my eye color. Even the pinkish shades look stunning. This palette is quite pigmented and very budget friendly and you can often get J Cat Beauty on sale at Ulta, Buy One, Get One 1/2 off!

RATE: 8.5/10 The one issue that I have with this palette is the very "Morphe" like packaging, which many companies used in order to reduce cost, but for me, it'a major turn off. But otherwise, the palette is affordable, accessible, and performs well.

ROTATE: I will continue to use this palette, and I am thinking about making it the first large palette I pan!

NYX Ultimate Palette in Smoke Screen

REVIEW: I am not a huge NYX fan. My main issue with the brand is that to label yourself as affordable or drugstore, but not have the price reflect that is not practical and consumer's are very smart and most find it irritating. Also with NYX, you never can be too confident in the what you are purchasing because the brand is so inconsistent.

RATE: 6.5/10 I was a bit surprised with the palette, the shades I predicted having issues with ending up being quite beautiful, and the shades I felt were going to be cooperative, were the complete opposite. The shimmer and glitter shades were very workable and quite stunning on the eyes, but the mattes took a great deal of effort to build up, which I usually appreciate and don't mind, but the effort was excessive and annoying.

ROTATE:  I thinking that I am going to sell this one on Poshmark or Mercari.