A little over two weeks ago, I received a small box of goodies from Sleek Makeup and Ulta (via Obviously Studios). I participated in a short Instagram campaign that was sponsored, but I wanted to take a moment to do a little review of the items that I received and why I was a bit timid to participate in a sponsored campaign. PS: This blog post and subsequent review are NOT sponsored, but I wanted to give you my thoughts on the items that I received.
In the box, I received two of Sleek’s Eyeshadow Mono singles (in Oh, Honey and Stubborn), an Intense Waterline Pencil (in black), the Solstice Highlighting Palette, Highlighting Elixir (in Popping Bottles), an Ulta Blending Eyeshadow Brush, and a gift card to Ulta (as payment for doing the promoted social media posts on Instagram).
Eyeshadow Mono Single Eyeshadows in Oh, Honey and Stubborn – $5
I was a little skeptical about these eyeshadows due to the fact that I’ve been let down by single drugstore shadows in the past BUT these blew away my expectations and I am happy to report that these shades are AWESOME! The matte, Oh, Honey, shade is finely milled and blended out to the perfect transition shade for warm toned eye looks. It is described as “muted terracotta” and I think that’s fairly accurate. The winner out of the two is the metallic Mono in Stubborn. It blew my mind as it was insanely pigmented and reflective. It looks foiled even when applied dry. I was so surprised by these singles that I used some of my Ulta points and purchased a few more eyeshadows, so if that’s not a big thumbs up, I don’t know what is.
Solstice Highlighting Palette – $14.99
This palette is a multi-formula quad highlighter palette with both cream and powder highlighters. It is advertised as two baked powders, one luxurious cream formula, and one silky shimmer powder. The cream highlighter is the rose gold shade, which is too dark for a highlighter on my face… but it does work as a blush topper in a pinch. The two baked powders are located on the right side of the palette and are a platinum silver shade and a rosy champagne shade. Since they are a baked formula, they are a little on the drier side and give a more subdued highlighting effect when applied dry. If you foil it with some makeup spray it does become more intense, but you run the risk of picking up the makeup underneath your highlight. The last shade, the “silky shimmer powder” located on the bottom left of the quad is of a white gold tone. It looks more yellow in the pan but when applied it’s more of a white leaning gold shade. This is the smoothest formula out of the powders, for sure.
Highlighting Elixir Illuminating Drops in Poppin’ Bubbles – $9
Out of the box, I knew from the get-go that Highlighting Elixir would be too dark for me, as most champagne toned liquid and powder highlighters are, so I wasn’t able to use it for a look and will end up giving it to one of my family members. #PaleGirlProblems The formula of the Highlighting Elixir is on the drier side of liquid illumination/highlighting drops. If you have dry skin, I would steer clear of it to avoid drying out your skin even more… but that’s just me. The illumination drops come in three different shades and this is the lightest. If you have a light to medium skin tone, this shade would most likely work for you.
Intense Waterline Pencil – $7.50
This pencil is an inky black pencil, plain and simple. The formula is gel instead of a standard cream or khol eye pencil so it leans a little more on the creamier side. It buffs out with a little work and while it is advertised that it sets… I didn’t find that to be the case. I have tried it as an eyeshadow base, an eyeliner, and in the waterline and I think, for the most part, I like it as an eyeshadow base. It pairs exceptionally well with Stubborn and Oh Honey Eyeshadow Monos (as seen below in my makeup look).
A cool thing:
I did find out via email that one of my images was chosen by Obviously Social to be featured in their campaign roundup! Yay! Every little bit of exposure helps, I guess and the photographer in me finds great joy when my pictures get picked for whatever. I’ll have it linked HERE whenever I get the notification that it is live on their blog.
Why I was a bit timid:
I always get a bit timid around campaigns if it’s with a brand that I haven’t used in a while. Back when I was first starting, Sleek MakeUP’s eyeshadow palettes were inexpensive and did the job. I owned their cult “Acid Palette” which had four UV reactive eyeshadows and a few other colors. I thought it was color, but the formula on those eyeshadows was a bit on the dry side. Flash forward to now, I hadn’t tried any makeup from them in a few years, and while I think their brand has come a long way, I haven’t had the opportunity to try their products first hand in a while. I have been keeping tabs on the brand and those of my friends and peers that have tried the Solstice palette, love it. I am glad that I was chosen for the campaign since through it I discovered how awesome the Eyeshadow Monos are. Also, the $50 gift card went to me pick up some items from the GoT Urban Decay collection… tee hee.
I don’t participate in paid campaigns that often, not for lack of being open to it – but I am picky about the brands I work with. I want to promote and share products that I genuinely like and stand behind and that I think you, my wonderful dah’lings will enjoy, too. I’m not just going to do a paid campaign for the money – as that way leads to losing your trust as a content creator. I also think that brands see my small “influence” and think that their money can be best spent elsewhere with someone who has a more significant reach, even if I take bombass pictures. Maybe I’m wrong. There is a shift to micro and nano influencers, but still… I don’t know. Tee hee, but enough about all that, let’s talk about the look that I created for the campaign – something copper and monochrome.
———- Copper Monochromatic Look ———-
(Mini Eye Makeup Tutorial, via my IGTV… if’fins you would like to take a gander)
Makeup Details:
@milkmakeup HYDRO Grip Primer* and Blur Loose Setting powder*
@narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation in Mont Blanc mixed with a little OCC skin tint in Y0
@bitebeautyMultisticks in Blondie and Creme Caramel
@ebaperformancemakeupEncore AAM in Auburn (brows) and Ashes + Walnut (freckles)
@nyxcosmetics Matte Suede Lipstick in Danty Glaze
@sleekmakeupusa Eyeshadow Monos in Oh, Honey* and Stubborn*, Intense Waterline Pencil*, and Solstice Highlighting Palette*
@nudestix mascara
Accessories:
@epiccosplaywigs Helios wig in Cocoa Brown
My contacts are from @pinkyparadisedotcom in the style Gemini Night Series in Green
My top is from Ava&Viv at Target.
(*denotes items received in PR)
I do love wearing wigs in the color Cocoa Brown from Epic Cosplay, and this wig especially gives me some serious April O’Neil vibes. All I’m missing is some mutated turtles and an unlimited supply of pizza.
Speaking of April, it’s been a tiring month. The beginning of the month started with a dead run and by week two I was barely keeping enough spoons to do everyday tasks. But for most of the month, I’ve been dealing with a lupus-fibromyalgia combo flare. It sucks, but it happens and eventually, it will get better. I am so backlogged on content that I need to edit and get up and out there to you guys, I just haven’t had the energy to really sit down and grind.
For now, how about that Game of Thrones episode, huh?
