Being a child of the Pluto in Scorpio generation I remember the simple days of being entranced and the happiness accompanying opening a big box of 120-count Crayola Crayons. The rows and arrays colours, the scents (don't you dare tell me Macaroni and Cheese didn't smell or taste like the real thing, haha), THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. It was a beautiful time when your imagination was encouraged, and you could just lose yourself for a time creating masterpieces before even more bright colours danced across the television screen from Nickelodeon and catchy Lisa Frank commercials. Boy, we were the neon kids and fantasy generation! Flash forward and work sucks (I know!), life kinda got complicated (Clarissa didn't exactly explain it all) and it's easy to ask where has that simple magic gone from a stick of wax? Sheesh didn't mean to depress anyone there (sorry, that's sort of what our generation has devolved into but hey we have lots of dark insensitive jokes and senses of humour; want us to show our saved search histories? Come on, we aren't ashamed, this one is about a serial killer and a dead clown), what I'm getting at is sometimes you just need to remember what used to bring you joy and entertain us. For me, that was once upon a time bright colours and a blank page where I didn't have to stay in the lines. So colour me happy recapturing that exact little spark of myself this past year I thought was dimmed forever with the end of roller rinks, KB Toys, Butterfinger BB's and the overnight disappearance of Keebler Magic Middles when I found painting and shading on my eyeballs could make me excited and want to get ready for the night. Believe me, never did I think I would associate that feeling with makeup but here we are as baby purchased her first eye palette(s), she's feeling pretty in pink and hey she isn't as miserable and cynical these days (give our generation a little of a break, please). Here are some descriptive "swatches" of my most recent purchases because I stink at taking photos. Buckle up buttercups, this is a whole new world for me and this round is all about Pariah House Cosmetics and the Lunarly Unphased and True Shades palettes and a few shiny shimmery extras. Should start this rambling off with a few tips:
Lunarly Unphased palette 10 panned with a removable tray to fit more magnetic-bottomed single eye shadows and contains a mirror that gives the clever impression of a reflective moon. Additional details are in the artwork around the palette (including the back that contains the names of the shades) from phases of the moon and the shop's logo in the centred outlined in silver. The palette is a lift style and arrived in a useful box for storage. Theme Description and Inspiration: "The Theme and color story was heavily inspired by the art of Marcella Giusela Pace and their depictions of the different colors and phases of the full moon throughout a ten year life span. We took that idea a step further. We tied an element of Magick to the name of each shadow and the color it represents to create a personal and empowering experience" Where to start? These shadows are unlike anything I have ever seen or tried on myself, they are easy to apply with minimal effort as the formulas are powdery-creamy soft and it's a delightful and entertaining surprise in every pan as the tones shift in the light and it's some kind of marvellous modern alchemy at work. This is the perfect beginner palette and colour story. Finally, I respect the simple fact that like the elusive mysterious moon, these shades are impossible to capture on film and hold one in awe throughout the night. Royal Intuition: Looking straight at the pan it's a true royal blue with a sheen and once applied it morphs bluish-purple with hidden green and peach mini sparkles. Anti-Matter: In the pan, Anti-Matter is a nearly purple-black with a hot pink embedded twinkle. This is one of my current favourites as I learn how to transition shades and the power of dark tones against my green eyes. Serves as a great dark colour with some extra sparkle against black eyeliner and can be nicely and easily blended out to create a more dramatic wing look. Unphased: In different light and angles, it goes from dark black blue with breaks of bright brilliant lighter blue underneath and if you turn the palette slightly it goes reddish purple. Applied Unphased is a buildable magenta with bright blue sparkles Ethereal Joy: This one stays consistent as a peachy salmon with dark orange and gold shimmer. I enjoy playing with Ethereal Joy to see how pink or orange I can twist the tones. I think this will suit me very well once I find my elusive pumpkin shade for the upcoming season (and who am I kidding, that shade will be worn throughout the year once I find it). Broken Fire: This pan contains a rich autumnal gold that once applies gives off a pink to red cast. Another great blender type of tone. Fertile Ground: Another favourite of mine from this moon-phased themed palette. I'm not sure the exact magic of how Fertile Ground works against my unique eye colour, but it plays beautifully with the golden hues in my eyes. In the pan, it's bronze against black and applied it holds a green and peach-copper glow under the darker bronze. Crimson Confidence: This was my first ever experience with a red eye shadow and one swipe of this rich satiny red and I was addicted to how it looked so dramatic but was still wearable. Another lovely buildable hue with a punch. Psychic Cycle: Pure liquid silver, more of a stream of melted mercury versus a silvery-white moonbeam tone. Extremely fun to play with and matches practically anything you place beside it or transition with. Tranquil Projections: A lighter navy blue in the pan and once applied the hidden pink, green and peach shimmer shows easily against the darker base. New Moon: New Moon and Anti-Matter are the shadows I use the most out of this palette and whilst one is a darker blackish purple with pink sparkles the other is an iridescent white with a ruby glow; it's almost pearlescent or akin to. This colour story really does capture all the enchanting phases of the moon and the above transitions of the night sky. True Shade palette 4 panned in a hand-sized book (soft closure) type of palette with embossed details on the front, there is a mirror on the inside and the back is also embossed at the corners and contains the names of the shades inside. Very lovely detailing as I have come to find at this shop. They certainly have an "eye" for it (Ha! Thank you, I'll be here all night!) Theme and Inspiration: The show True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse book series Before dipping a brush into the True Shade palette, I was under the impression I could never pull off such daring tones but the theme (mention vampires and I shall show you my pocketbook) and shades called out to me from nether space and this colour story had to come home. Turns out it all depends on the cast of reds as these are simply stunning in the pan and once applied (they range from a supernatural shimmery white pink-silver to vibrant pink-violet to blood-dried red; these are hues that set off green eyes). One drop of the creamy powder and I was on some fantastic journey further down the rabbit hole of learning how to blend, angles of application that were most becoming on the eyelid, new terms and what colour appeared best (answer- everywhere and they are all compliments each other creating a new me and makes me wanna do (all the) bad things, haha!) Needless to say, this dark little heart couldn't be more pleased and beguiled with this impulse purchase. At The Vamp Bar: A hot rich burgundy that turns dried-blood red once applied. It has a black base which allows the darker red to shift and morph looking more visceral. This one is a showstopper and is aptly named. Progeny: Full confession, I almost didn't purchase the True Shade collection (I have "V" coming with my next order) because of this shade, Progeny looked like something I could never wear but surprise it is one pan I reach for more often than I ever thought. Yes, it is a blazing pink in the pan and I DO have to take care how much I apply on my brush and on my eyes but dare I say, Progeny is quite lovely and becoming with a light purple cast to it depending how the light hits. Okay, another confession I also enjoy it for the simple fact that a podcast (...okay it's vampire and werewolf smut I'll fully admit it, thank god for headphones, haha) I listen to late at night mentions the word "progeny" and I had to have a daring shade to match (Marry me, Milo or atleast manifest in real life, please!) Shifter: Now Shifter is quite unique as in the pan it's a forest green and earthy brown, however one swipe and this one has a sanguine bite you weren't expecting and I do have to swatch this one often to remind myself that it's NOT green, Shifter does have a green look to it once the light hits but it's more brownish-red. Very different and again that creative channel I listen to mentions the word "Shifter" and I'm only too happy to don this shade like a moonstruck Venus in Gemini that I am (we fall in love with voices and accents; judge us as you will, haha). Sookie Slayhouse: Now we have come to THE shade I wear with everything from any collection as this is my favourite pan. It's a delicate silvery white that almost brings to mind a magic mirror effect, that serves me as the ideal highlighter at my brow bone and the inner corner of my eye AND adds the finishing touch of sparkle to any colour; it's simply perfect and something I have been searching years for. ____________________________________________ Single Pans not associated with any collection I currently own: Something Wicked: Out of my entire eye shadow library from Pariah, this is the shade that changed everything for me and has started a whole new chapter in my mindset and wardrobe. In the pan, Something Wicked is an eternal black laced with hints of green and a blood-fire waiting to be unveiled on the lid. Practically any single pigment you choose to pair Something Wicked with it curiously pulls your desired look together and adds a sharp bite to everything. It's a completely transformative experience that is honestly impossible to entirely explain, needless to say, worth every penny. Unicorn Blood: In the pan, Unicorn Blood is a dazzling lilac purple with pink highlights, enchanting on its own but take a dip of the powder brush and it completely morphs to this unexpected light blue with a green cast and then back to lilac at points that goes and matches everything you try with it. Blood never looked this pretty in the light. Another entertaining morpher by Pariah House Cosmetics. Getting ready for work shouldn't be this fun when playing with all of these single and colour stories, haha. Strange and Unusual: This is one eyeshadow that is impossible to ignore as it shifts in different lights from an eerily beautiful dark emerald-green in the pan to a striking grungy peacock-teal on the lid and has a subtle flash of deep violet for an extra spin of a surprise. Strange and Unusual is anything but a regular look and dare I say, it really is showtime with this single. _____________________________________ Create Your Inner Pariah: Custom Shades Now it's time to reveal another facet that makes this makeup house so amazing- they offer custom shades (and lip glosses and nail polishes). You read that right, this is where true self-pampering magic and alchemy is born and forged er rather pressed. If you can dream up a tone, hue or pigment shifting story, Pariah House Cosmetics can pan it. I now own 3 such shadows that range from capturing the alluring blue flash of a moonstone to the delicate golden glow of a rising autumn moon and those are only the beginning as I plan to add to my eye makeup library with yet another series of colour stories by next spring. The process is uncomplicated, stress-free and above all- FUN! Honestly, eye makeup shouldn't be this entertaining to play with or create. The owner loves a challenge and is a delight to work with as she provides stellar customer service and end presentation. This is one venture I can't recommend enough. Pariah House Cosmetics |
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28th of January 2023) NOTES/COMBINATIONS and Stones CURRENTLY ON THE HUNT FOR: Naughty Licorice/Star Anise Cardamom Cardamom Cake with Roses Smoky Honey & Leather Leather and Florals Pomegranate Colder Tuberose scents Smoked Florals with Cinnamon and Honey Graham Cracker and Incense Double strand of Rose Quartz or Moonstones or Black Tourmaline Chainmaille Jewellery Houses of Fragrance and Interest on the Horizon (shops that contain such temptations): LurkerAndStrange Good Spirit Wolf Rapt In Maille ToadStoolSoaps DSH Perfume Baphomet&Co Harvest Moon Haven Granny Hootenanny's Shop
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