My "GoTo Palette"

My GoTo Palette consists of eyeshadow colors I use on a regular basis. So instead of making an all brown palette, or an all green or all purple palette like many people do, I decided to make one palette that I can open to do a look with, without having to open other palettes at the same time.

At first, I was going to order the empty 28 pan palette from Stars Makeup Haven , but I decided to save my money and just pop out the insert in a MAC palette that I already own. That way, instead of only holding 15 shadows, it will hold almost twice as much - 26 shadows. Many other people do this, as well, and all you have to do is pry some tweezers under one corner and pull the insert out.

Now, on to the pics and swatches. You'll see that I mostly like browns, pinks, peaches, golds and greens. Sorry, no blues or purples because I don't wear those colors too often. And there's a mix of brands here, from low end ($1) to high end ($14.50). Watch out for the dupe info in the color descriptions.

All shadows were swatched heavily over Scandalous Cosmetics Eyeshadow Magnet. Colors can vary depending on application method and type of base.

Left Half

Right Half

Click to enlarge. All shadows are labeled.

1. NYX Barely There: Satin pale gold
2. NYX Highlight*: Matte creamy yellow; it won't look that yellow when you apply it as a highlight - I packed it on, remember?
3. MAC Tete-A-Tint: Matte peachy color with fawn brown undertones; apply it as a wash for a more natural look
4. Milani Illusion: Sheer, shimmery light pink with gold duochrome; this color won't look like the swatch unless you pack it on well; I like to layer this over other colors; it's very unique
5. MAC Expensive Pink: Veluxe pearl; shimmery peachy-pink with gold duochrome
6. MAC Bold & Brazen (LE): Starflash finish (I really don't know how to describe the difference of this finish with others, but it's more shimmery without being glittery or sparkly); shimmery mid-tone peach; DUPE- the light color in the L'Oreal HIP Duo in Playful (click here for swatch)
7. Milani Flare: Shimmery orange with peach tones; DUPE- MAC Coppering

8. NYX Brown: Matte, medium warm-toned brown; I like the single better but this will do; this is great in the crease or just above it
9. NYX Suede: Matte cool-toned brown; DUPE- MAC Wedge
10. Wet n Wild Fine Wink*: Shimmery champagne-pink; LOVE this as a lid color; DUPE- MAC Naked Lunch; (howto depot)
11. MAC All That Glitters: Veluxe pearl; shimmery peachy-champagne-beige; I also LOVE this as a lid color; DUPE- NYX Champange but ATG is slightly more of a peachy-champagne while NYX's is more beige-champagne
12. MAC Woodwinked: Veluxe pearl; shimmery golden bronze
13. MAC Go (LE): Starflash finish; shimmery cocoa bronze; DUPE- MAC Tempting

14. NYX Golden: Shimmery, golden yellow; this is from the Yellow Pearl/Antique Gold/Golden trio
15. NYX Antique Gold: Shimmery antique gold
16. NYX Golden: Shimmery orangey-gold; this is from the Golden/Rust/Walnut Bronze trio
17. MAC Satin Taupe*: Frost finish (don't be fooled by the name "frost" because it's not frosty); shimmery cool-toned taupe brown with plum undertones; you have to see it in real life because pics don't do it justice; my favorite color
18. NYX Walnut Bronze: Shimmery brown with dark pinkish-plum undertones
19. Milani Java Bean*: Shimmery warm dark brown; this shadow is a must-have!
20. MAC Glamour Check! (LE): Starflash finish; shimmery burgundy brown; DUPES- the dark color in the L'Oreal HIP Duo in Playful (click here for swatch) or Too Faced Full Frontal

Another look at the 3rd row. The difference between Satin Taupe and Java Bean is more prominent in this picture.

21. NYX Spring Leaf: Shimmery light green
22. NYX Green Tea: Shimmery mid-tone warm green
23. MAC Humid: Frost finish; shimmery hunter green; a must for green lovers; DUPES- NYX Mermaid Green, dark color in Wet n Wild Amazon Greens Trio (click here for swatch), or Milani Clover
24. Wet n Wild Naked: Semi-matte cool brown; great blender color
25. NYX Rootbeer: Satin ashy brown; good brow filler even if it's not matte (somehow it works)
26. elf Dusk: Shimmery black; not too frosty nor glittery


I'd definitely add NYX Sahara because that's my favorite highlight but I have the square single instead of the round pan.

If I had to recommend one color from each of the 5 different brands in my GoTo Palette (labeled with an asterisk in the color descriptions), they would be NYX Highlight, Wet n Wild Fine Wink, MAC Satin Taupe, Milani Java Bean, and elf Dusk. =)

*~*UPDATE*~*

Click here to see my updated GoTo Palette

*~*Drugstore Nail Polish*~*

My recent drugstore nail polish haul includes brands I've never tried before: Sinful Colors, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear, Milani, Pure Ice, Rimmel Lycra Wear 10 + Minerals, Rimmel 60 Seconds & NYC In a New York Color Minute.
Click the helpful links for more color selections. (Review for Rimmel Lycra Wear 10 in progress)


Shausha (SHAW-shuh?) by Sinful Colors is a duochrome color with an orchid base and bronze shimmer. It's around $1.99 at Walgreens. The formula is runny and I needed about 3 coats. The shimmer looks a little "grainy" but this color is unique and gorgeous! I had fun looking at this polish at all angles and in different lighting because it changes. I probably won't repurchase Sinful Colors though unless I really love the color. (2nd picture is in natural light & the 3rd is natural low light)

~Lime Lights (around $2 @ Target) is a very sheer minty, shimmery green. This is 4 coats but when the light hits it, you get a bright flash of color. Very good for layering over a dark color, like a purple. You'll get some interesting colors. (See swatch below)
~Golden Goddess is a shimmery butterscotch and I had problems with brushstrokes. I picked this up on sale at Walgreen's for $2.49 and I loved a lot of the other colors.
~Twinkle ($2 @ Walmart) is a super pretty coral with little flecks of golden glitter. Has a rough texture when dry and I only needed 2 coats. Small cubed-shaped bottles are my favorite type of packaging, like Carolyn New York.

Very Easter, huh? =) Click to enlarge.

Time for the neutrals...

~Milk Chocolate is a creme fawn brown with dusty pink undertones. It looks kind of blah indoors but with three coats, it gets darker and it's very office appropriate. Goes on easily and smoothly; it levels itself out. My favorite formula of all these swatches! Around $3.49 at drugstores.
~Princess Pink is a sheer creme light pink, perfect for that French mani. I had problems getting this color to come out evenly when I built it up to 4 coats. Around $3.49 at drugstores.
~SoHo is a very sheer pearly pink. These dry fast for a convenient manicure but they chip easily and don't last long. Four coats in the swatch and goes for $1.99 everywhere.
~Bryant Park is a shimmery antique gold. Two or three coats in the swatch.

*UPDATE*

Got some more for ya....

~White On is your basic white creme color. It goes on smoothly and it's very pigmented. Around $2 and 2 coats in the swatch.
~Pink Velvet is a gorgeous pink with a little bit of shimmer. Only $1.50 at Walmart and I was surprised at how well this went on; it's not sheer either. Two coats. I LOVE the little brush to paint my little toe nails with! Indeed, petite.
~Black Rage from Pure Ice is $2 at Walmart and this color is also very pigmented and smooth. I only used 1 thick coat in the swatch.

Here's my ATTEMPT at zebra nails but it came out more like a white tiger, huh? Bwahaha! I used a black Stripe Rite Paint from Sally Beauty Supply, which I hate because I can't get a nice point with the brush. But for animal print nails, I guess it works. Oh, and then my top coat messed up some of the black. *groan*


So that was the nail "eye candy" for the day! =)

I'd definitely repurchase:
Rimmel Lycra Wear 10 + Minerals
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear
Pure Ice
Petites