One Brand Review: Josie Maran

I recently upgraded my collection of the brand Josie Maran. The owner, Josie, is a famous model who started her own brand based on one ingredient, Argan oil grown by Moroccan women. The brand has around 14 makeup products (on the Sephora website), so it is small, but I believe it is still growing. I only have 3 products, but overall I'm very impressed with the brand. 

The first product I got was the Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow in Playa Del Pink. The color claims to be a light shimmering pink, but is more of a champagne gold. The actual product comes in a glass container with a doe foot applicator. It is pigmented at first but can be built up very easily. It does not crease, even without a primer. The finish is a wet metallic look. To apply this I put it straight on to my lids and blend out with my finger. To blend the edges I use a fluffy brush. The product is very easy to spread out and blend. My final thought is that the product is amazing, and I totally recommend this for an easy eyeshadow look. ($18) 

The next product I got was the Argan Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick in the color Playful Pink (carnation pink). This is described as a 3 in one lipstick that provides a gloss finish, pigment, and hydration. The outer edge of the lipstick is pure argan oil, and the core is where the lipstick part is. This placement of pigment provides a natural look on your lips because the pigment just ends up in the middle. It is also just the right amount of sheer because the oil sheers it out. The lipstick is very hydrating and smooth on your lip, but when the argan oil sinks in it leaves the pigment very heavy and drying. Overall the product is amazing, hydrating, and lasts on the lips, but can be a bit troublesome when the oil absorbs. ($22)

Thanks for reading! 

-Allie's Beauty Bubbles 

Part Two: Eyeshadow Palettes

To follow last week I'm going to be showing you the rest of my powder eyeshadow collection, including my palettes. I have 7 palettes that I get a lot of use out of (more than my single eyeshadows). In my opinion they are more practical than singles because you can get an entire look out of them. Hope you enjoy it! 

The fist palette I have is the Urban Decay Naked 2. This is filled with multiple colors with mainly brown tones along with some bronze/gold tones. It comes with a yellow based highlight shade and a matte black. This palette has 12 eyeshadows with only 3 matte shades. The consistency of the shadows is very creamy, but the matte shades are more powdery. Out of all of my palettes, I get the least use out of this one because I prefer the Naked 3.  This retails for $54. 

The next palette is the Urban Decay Naked 3. This naked palette has more rose tones, but again it only has 3 matte shades. I get more use out of this palette than the first one because the pink/purple colors make brown eyes stand out. The lightest shade is a matte off-white, and the darkest is a purple black with rose shimmer running through it. Again, the consistency is very creamy. This is priced for $54. 

The next palette is also form Urban Decay. It's their Naked Basics palette with 6 eyeshadows (so half the size of the original Naked palettes). It has most mattes except fora shimmer highlight shade. It comes with a yellow and pink toned highlight shade, a cool toned light brown, along with a dark brown, and a matte black. The consistency is the same as the other palettes; it is very creamy but can be powdery. Out of my Urban Decay palettes, I get the most use out of this one because it creates a very simple natural eye look. This retails for $29. 

The next palette is from Smashbox, the Ombre A Paupieres in Sparks. This was a limited edition a few years ago. It comes with 6 eyeshadows with 2 matte shades (a nude and dark brown).  Smashbox eyeshadows are my favorite because they are so creamy, pigmented, and blend amazingly. This palette comes with a beautiful gold color. You would think it would be pure loose glitter, but is actually a creamy packed pigment. Overall this is my favorite out of all 7 of my pallets; it's a shame it was discontinued. 

I have one more Smashbox palette that was a limited edition this winter.  It is the smaller of the On The Rocks palettes. This comes with 12 eyeshadows and all have fine shimmer running through them. This palette has some very intense colors like a burgundy, purple, emerald green, and dark sky blue. To pair with these shades, it comes with neutrals with pink, yellow, pewter, and silver undertones. The latter shades are darker neutrals like a black, brown, dark grey, and copper. Again, the consistency is amazing and so creamy. 

Only swatched a few shades 

The next palette is from Bobbi Brown. The Pastel Bright Eye palette was limited edition last spring and has 2 matte shades (off white and dusty rose) and 4 shimmer. The matte shades are not very pigment and a little powdery. The shimmer shades are more pigmented but not very creamy, making it harder to blend. The shimmer shades come in a platinum, baby blue, rose gold, a purple grey. 

The dusty rose blends in with my skin tone sorry! 

My last palette is also from Bobbi Brown and was also a limited edition for Winter this year. It is the Instant Pretty Eye and Cheek palette. I find myself reaching for this palette the most because it has every shade I need plus a blush. This comes with a yellow toned highlight, cool tone light brown, light shimmery pink, and a dark brown. I prefer this one more than the small Urban Decay one because of the touch of color. The Blush is in the color Nectar and is a peachy pink. The consistency is very smooth but not very creamy (not quite powdery either). 

That's all of my palettes! Sorry most of them were limited edition. Hope you enjoyed it. 

-Allie's Beauty Bubbles