❧❦ MyGlam Bag May 2012 - Philosophy ❦❧

MyGlam Bag May 2012

Studio Gear Complete Color Lipstick

Miss Beauty - Nail Bling

Philosophy Love Sweet Love

MyGlam Concealer Brush and Defining Eyeliner Brush

MyGlam has got to be one of the worst sample subscription programs out there right now.  Because of my experiences with other subscription services, I know that things can change and that every company has growing pains, so I will continue with it - for now.  But so far, it's been an appalling mix of cheap makeup brushes and cheap makeup bags, minimum purchase coupons in lieu of product,  and products you can find at Walmart.  There have been very few decent samples, even less high end cosmetics.  I've given away most of the products I have received.  


MyGlam does require you to fill out some kind of beauty info page when you sign up, but apparently this is all about demographics.  So they don't care to categorize groups of people by skin tone or hair color and send them appropriate products.  It is clear from all the feedback I have received on my MyGlam videos that random colors are distributed and some people get colors that do not compliment them.


Not to mention the continuing debacle with shipping problems (many of their subscribers received multiple bags, meaning that others received nothing because they were shipped to the wrong address!), people being charged for bags that they never received and having issues obtaining refunds, bad customer service and having to update your credit card information because after a few months MyGlam decided to change their credit card processing service.


I did experience issues when I paid for but did not receive my first MyGlam bag, but after a few emails to MyGlam I was refunded.


And this month is no exception.  I got "Nail Bling" that is appropriate for a 14 year old, but a sophisticated deep red lipstick by Studio Gear called "Autumn Red" - and guess what?  It's SPRING!  The color is lovely but it would look garish if I wore this right now.  It's a color I'll keep until October.  


This kind of thing does not benefit the company being featured - in this case, Studio Gear - because if I don't use the product now, like it and decide to buy more products in the near future, I doubt I'll get around to it in October.


If you are still on the fence, hold off on this one.  For the same amount of money, Birchbox is infinitely better.  More expensive sample boxes are now here - hello GlossyBox!  And then there is always New Beauty's TestTube.


I'll continue to feature MyGlam for a few months, but at the rate they are going, the whole company appears to be a sloppy amateur afterthought and this shows no signs of abating.


- The Sassi Wench

❧❦ Stila In The Light Eye Shadow Palette ❦❧

Stila In The Light Palette

Stila In The Light Palette

I've been a Stila girl for years.  Even though I do love many of their products, I'm really a big fan of their eye shadows.

If you have never experienced them before, Stila eye shadows are finely milled and velvety.  Because they are so soft (especially the shimmer colors), they are more delicate and prone to breakage.  But this also means that you can use less product, and you don't have to dig into the product with your brush.   And if you aren't careful, you can expect a little fallout with the darker colors like Night Sky and Ebony.

But I simply adore this palette - the colors, textures, application, everything - just works for me.  I've used this palette for weeks at a time, and I've never grown tired of it.

For a comparison, as much as I love my Urban Decay Naked 1 and 2 palettes, I have used my Stila palette more often and have hit pan on several of the colors.

Stila In The Light Palette

The palette includes a Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Damsel, a matte chocolate brown, and an 6-page booklet with detailed how-to tips.

Bare - matte ivory

Kitten - a shimmery nude pink

Bliss - matte beige pink

Sunset - shimmery canyon pink

Sandstone - matte light coco

Bubbly - shimmery pale gold

Gilded Gold - golden brown with shimmer

Luster - dark aubergine with gold shimmer

Night Sky - blue with shimmer

Ebony - black

Total eye shadow weight: .49oz/14g, made in USA.

The Smudge Stick is full-sized .01oz/.28g, made in Germany.

Stila In The Light Palette

Stila In The Light Palette

 

Stila eye shadows in Bare, Kitten, Champagne and Gilded Gold

Stila eye shadows in Bliss, Luster

Stila eye shadows in Sunset, Sandstone, Night Sky, Ebony

Stila In The Light Palette Swatches

Stila In The Light Palette Swatches

Pros:

• Versatile colors can create a multitude of looks from neutral to smokey.
• Can be easily layered and blended.
• Soft eye shadows - you don't need a lot of product to create a beautiful effect.
• Can be used wet or dry.
• Will compliment any skin tone.
• Long lasting.
• Highly pigmented.
• Smooth application.
• Unbeatable value of $39 for a palette of 10 Stila eye shadows! An individual Stila eye shadow is $18 for 0.09 oz.
• Includes a really good waterproof eyeliner.
• Not tested on animals.

Cons: 

• Because some of the eye shadows are very soft (like Kitten), by the time you hit pan they have a tendency to break.
• Some of the eye shadows can flake.
• No mirror - I don't mind but for others it's essential in a palette like this.
• A strange cardboard packaging that looks okay initially, but it dents easily and looks scuffed after several months of use making it look cheap.
• There is no clasp or magnet on the palette, and this makes it rather inconvenient to carry around in your purse or travel with because the lid can come open, causing obvious problems and exposing the makeup to bacteria.

I really love the looks that I can create from this palette, and I would repurchase it.

Available here!


- The Sassi Wench