Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Palette Swatches

My boyfriend surprised me with this palette as an early Anniversary gift. He knows me so well..


This new palette from Urban Decay contains 15 new shades. (No Midnight Cowboy, Rides Again or Half Baked in this palette!) I feel like this palette has something for everyone as it contains a nice combination of neutral, brights, and darker hues.

I love everything about Urban Decay including their fun packaging. This palette is no different. The lid has a metallic finish and cut-out filagree edges. On the opposite side of the lid, there is a huge mirror. The eyeshadow pan pops out (not very easily) to reveal a little velvet-lined compartment. However, not much can fit inside, maybe a few notes or a tiny bracelet.

Above from Left to Right: Midnight Rodeo, Midnight 15, Vanilla, Flow, & Chase

 Above from Left to Right: Tainted, Junkshow, Omen, Evidence, & Deep End

Above from Left to Right: Deeper, M.I.A., Ace, Blackout, & Half Truth

Stay tuned. My next post will be comparing swatches between these new eyeshadows with existing UD eyeshadows! 

Where to Buy: UrbanDecay.com, Ulta.com, & Sephora.com*

Cost: $55

*Palette has been quickly selling out at multiple retailers.

Benefit BadGal vs. They're Real

So if you already have Benefit's BadGal mascara you may be wondering if you need or should switch to their new mascara, They're Real. It comes down to what you want your mascara to do. Benefit's BadGal has always given me a soft, natural lash look. As a volumizing mascara, it never really gave my lashes dramatic length like They're Real will. Check out my full review of They're Real here.

♥BadGal Lash                                                          

Nylon Brush

Volume Mascara

Matte Finish

Available in 4 colors (black, brown, plum, blue) & a waterproof formula

Longer, fatter brush

Longer handle

♥They're Real

Plastic-like Brush

Lengthening Mascara

Glossy Finish

Available only in Jet-Black

Brush has Combo Short/Long Bristles

 Brush Comparison
Top: BadGal Lash
Bottom: They're Real

BadGal has a longer brush handle

Where to Buy: www.BenefitCosmetics.com, Sephora, Ulta

Cost: They're Real $22; BadGal $19. Both 8.5 g net wt 0.3 oz.

Hate to Wait?

I love painting my nails, but I hate waiting for them to dry...


A few years ago, I discovered OPI's Drip Dry, which was in a duo nail polish set that was on sale at Ulta. Basically you apply a few drops to each nail after you are finished painting your nails and they are dry within a few minutes! For someone like me who paints her nails up to twice a week, Drip Dry was an *amazing* discovery.


What wasn't so amazing was the price...


Drip Dry costs anywhere in $13-15 dollar range. In my opinion, it is worth the price to not have to sit around and watch paint dry (ha!). However, for one reason or another, I never got around to repurchasing.


I was in Target with my boyfriend recently and decided to stop by the makeup section. Sitting on the shelf was a Drying Drop bottle by Nicole by OPI. I figured if the original OPI Drip Dry was amazing, this formula had to be somewhat similar. Plus, it was nearly half the price ($7.99 for 15 mL). Score!

The directions are the same. Apply 1-2 drops 60 seconds after the final coat. OPI claims in 60 seconds nails are dry to the touch, and in 5 minutes nails are completely dry.


I wanted to try these drying drops one last time without a topcoat. I've been using the drops after using Butter of London's quick drying topcoat, so I didn't want it to skew my results. However, it did not. My nails were dry to the touch within a minute or so (with 3 coats of nail polish!) and after a few minutes they were dry. Of course, I didn't go around trying to smudge them...


Final Thoughts:
Even though I tried the original drip dry a few years ago, Nicole by OPI's drying drops seem to work just as well as I remember the original working. Amazing product, at half the price.


Where to Buy: Target, Ulta
Cost: about $7.99

Review: Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara

I've never really been into "high-end mascaras." I usually stick to drugstore mascaras which in my opinion achieves comparable (in most cases) results for half the price. However, BadGal Lash came in a Benefit set I received last Christmas and when I finally got around to trying it, it changed my mind about high-end mascaras.


Because of my Benefit BadGal Lash love, I've been excited about the "They're Real" mascara launch since I first heard about it weeks ago. A mascara that claims dramatic length and volume, base-to-tip curl, visible lift, and long-wearing results? Yes, please!


This mascara is definitely an amazing lengthening mascara. I wouldn't say it gives you extreme length like some false lashes do, however, it looks like a realistic (They're Real!) version. Although, this also depends on how long your lashes are to begin with.  I did notice volume and curl, however, it wasn't as dramatic. To get curl & separate, Benefits suggests turning the mascara vertically and stroking upwards.


I found that with two coats of this black mascara, my lashes started to clump. However, I always use just one coat of any mascara because I don't like how the mascara looks with two coats. So what might be considered clumpy to me, may not be to you.

One Coat of They're Real Mascara
UD Primer Potion in Eden
Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Fair

They're Real has a "plastic-like" wand with a combination of short and long bristles. 

The tip of the mascara wand has bristles as well. I found the tip of the wand great to get into the hard-to-reach outer corner of my lashes and my bottom lashes.

(Left) BadGal Lash Brush vs. They're Real Brush (Right)

And just in case you were wondering... Here is quick pic brush comparison between BadGal and They're Real. A detailed comparison post to come soon! here.

Where to Buy: www.BenefitCosmetics.com, Sephora, Ulta
Cost: $22
Cheaper (Lengthening) Alternative: Loreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara