Back to the Earth Swatches *Pic Spam*

The one thing I love most is being able to look pretty without wasting hundreds of dollars on mediocre products.

Besides drugstore products, another good option would be to try out handmade makeup from Etsy. Not only are the products safer, but they're also a lot cheaper!

So long story short, I did a MUA swap with the owner of an Etsy shop called Back to the Earth (linked for those interested) All of their makeup is vegan, natural and organic.

I got the 5pc deal, where it only costs $12 for 5 eyeshadows of your choice (I got them free though, since it was a swap) and I have to say, I was really impressed with the pigmentation!

Here's what I got:


Illuminated
This is probably my favorite of the bunch. It's a bit hard to tell, but this is a sort of cream colored shadow in disguise. When you shine it in the light, it turns into a really amazing sheer gold.


Diamonds and Shamrocks
This was a bit darker than I expected (I was hoping for something like pastel green),
but still a really pretty shade nevertheless. Honestly, I can never say anything bad about glittery eyeshadow, they're just so pretty!


Northern Lights
Another one of my favorites, this is a really beautiful and intense shade of purple. The sparkles are really amazing, it really does look like the stars!


Starry Night
I was really disappointed that it was more black than purple, but if you forget about that, the black in itself is really amazing! When applied wet, it's a really intense purple/black with hints of purple glitter. Have you ever seen the ocean get all sparkly when it hits the sun? Sort of like that.


Water Elemental
Although it's a really intense color, this is probably my least favorite out of the five. I just didn't see the wow factor from it. It's just my POV though...

Anyways, here are the swatches I promised you:





Overall, I give this shop an A+ :)

Question: What's your favorite etsy makeup shop? If you've never bought from one, are you planning on doing so?

Tatcha Japanese Blotting Papers Review

It's been a while sine I've last done a review, so I thought I might talk about this product I received from a fellow beauty blogger (oops, I forgot who I won from!).



Wow, the packaging is so pretty, I'm impressed already!

Okay, so here's what the website says:

A 300 year old Japanese beauty secret for a petal fresh complexion revealed.
Removes excess oil and sweat without disturbing makeup or stealing moisture from the skin.
A powder and primer alternative that improves the wear of makeup.
For all skin types: oily, normal, dry & sensitive.
Ingredients
100% abaca leaf, gold flake.
Fragrance-free. Powder-free. Oil-free.
All-natural, biodegradable. No animal testing.
Handmade in Japan.

One pack 30 sheets costs $12, but it is really worth it? Let's find out! x3

Here's what it looks like inside:



The inside cover has a little story about how Geishas actually get their flawless skin from aburatorigami - Japanese beauty papers, which is exactly what this product is! How cool is that!

Close up of the paper:



Do you notice this little specks of gold?

Each sheet is so pretty that I an't even bear to ruin it on my dirty face!

So...

Here are the results I came up with!



Yes, very horrifying to see how much oil there is on it, but that proves how good this product is!
Can you believe that I only used this one sheet for my whole face? (you can use both sides!)

Overall, I was really impressed with this!

Packaging: A+ - Has a really unique and natural design while still aiming to be minimalist

Quality: A+ - Gold flakes and albaca leaf. As fancy as a sheet of blotting paper can get!

Effectiveness: A+/A - It's amazing how much oil these little sheets suck in, but may not last for the whole day.

Price: A - $12 for 30 sheets is not exactly cheap for blotting papers, but it's definitely worth it considering the amazing quality and usefulness!

General Experience: A+ - If you're looking for some good blotting papers, definitely try out Tatcha!

Grace~

Urban Decay Sustainable Shadow Box Review w/ Swatches

Hey, it's been a while since I posted!
I promised you something makeup related, so here it is!

This is my first time doing a review, so sorry if I'm not up to par.
I hope you will also respect my opinions on this piece. :)



Packaging: This is probably the prettiest box I've ever seen, the design is beautiful and also eco friendly! The outside is made of wood and inside is made of purple paper. The only thing I don't like is that you have to slide the cover to open it up. I like how they made it different from the others, but I just think it's very inconvenient this way and a pain to hold up.

I give it an: A/A-

Brush: I've heard others saying this is a terrible brush, but I actually love it! It has a very sturdy slim design, which makes it really easy for me to apply eyeshadow without worrying it looking messy. Perfect!

I give it an: A+

Design: Urban Decay is a genius. They paired up matching eyeshadows (top and bottom) which look great together and save you the hassles! It's perfect and painless, since I'm very indecisive. :)
I hate the mirror though, it's basically useless unless you can actually turn your head sideways and look into a tiny mirror. Overall though, the design is nice and simple. Nothing too over the top, so I like it.

I give it an: A-


(swatches in order of reviews)

Colors (overall): I love these colors, they're all very nicely pigmented and makes my eyes stand out. I happen to love glittery eyeshadow and pop out colors, so this palette is perfect for me! Although I'm not a fan of brown eyeshadow and there are four of them, I really like how they look on my eyes!

I give it an: A+

YDK: It's a very pretty, shimmery, almost milky brown. Perfect for the summer, but not much wow factor. A-
Midnight Cowboy Rides Again: Gotta give some points to the name, it's so cool! I super glittery eyeshadow that's somewhere between light brown and gold. A
Flipside: One of my favorites. The palette looks like a very toned down sea green, but is actually a very shimmery light blue green color. A+
Flash: Probably the eyeshadow with the least shimmer/glitter, it's still very pretty and stands out a lot. A
Grifter: A pretty mix between baby and rosy pink. I can't say anything bad about pink, it's one of my favorite colors! Very glittery. A/A+
Oil Slick: Again, points to the awesome name. This is no ordinary black. On the palette, it looks like like the milky way, and on your eyes, it's a very dark black with tiny hints of glitter. Amazing. A+
Uzi: Probably the eyeshadow with the most glitter + shimmer, it practically looks like plain ol' glitter! Nothing else to say but perfection. A+
Kiddie Pool: More points to the cute name! This color is very close to flipside on your eyes, but will a more sky blue approach. Very cute color. A/A+
Twice Baked: A very chocolaty brown with some hints of shimmer. I'm not a fan of brown, but others might love this. A-
Half Baked: Very cute color, it's a very glittery brown which looks closest to gold. A

Overall, this is an amazing piece. I think it's perfect for anybody into makeup, even beginners or professionals!

Thanks for reading!
Grace~