Two EOTDs: something different and a daytime smokey eye

I've been playing around some with my Darling Girl Cosmetics samples since my order arrived a couple weeks ago.  It's so fun!  Except most of the looks I've done aren't so interesting- I'll use one DGC shadow and mix it with another brand, or just use the DGC shadow all over (because they're so pretty by themselves..!).  Yesterday, however, I forced myself to get a little creative and put together this EOTD.

I love it all besides for the inner corner, which is actually a champagne Sally Beauty eyeshadow that I used all over my lid and into the crease (I was going to do a really simple eye look and then changed my mind!).  For some reason the photos make that shade look orange, but in real life it looks like a soft champagne.
My silly camera actually washed out the colors of this look a lot- for example, the teal on my lower lash line is really the matte green from Wet n Wild Pride 6-pan eyeshadow palette.  It's a pretty vivid green!  But my pictures totally don't capture it. -_-
Anyway, let's get on with the pictures and I'll stop my rambling.

Blurry but I liked the way the colors all reflect light and blend together ;)

Products used:

-UDPP Original

-Sally Beauty connection eyeshadow in Champagne (allover lid and up to browbone)

-Darling Girl Cosmetics eyeshadow in Sugar Minuet (lower half of lid and outer corners)

-Wet n Wild Pride eyeshadow palette, shimmery teal (layered on top of champagne shade in crease)

-Wet n Wild Vanity eyeshadow palette, matte cream (browbone)

-MAC Beauty Powder in Too Chic (browbone highlight underneath arch of eyebrows)

-Wet n Wild Pride eyeshadow palette, matte teal (lower lash line)

-Covergirl Liquiline Blast eyeliner in Black Blaze (upper and lower lash line)

-Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal mascara

-ELF Clear Lash/Brow gel (to keep brows in place)

I love doing looks like this that incorporate colors but make them wearable.  Bright shades usually intimidate me, but they're super easy to pull off with a lighter hand!

This next look is one I did today; it's a simple daytime smokey eye using the ELF Studio cream eyeshadow in Dawn as a base.  And please note!  The eyeshadow isn't creased, it's my silly eyelids.  If I don't hold my eyes a certain way when taking pictures, they bunch up like that.  (And my eyebrows... I need to clean them up, which I realized after taking these, LOL)

Products used:

-Almay Bright Eyes eye base (primer)

-ELF Studio cream eyeshadow in Dawn (as base)

-Wet n Wild 8-pan eyeshadow palette in Comfort Zone (the shimmery browbone shade on the top right, it's an olive-y pewter shade, used all over lid)

-ELF Studio eyeshadow in Pebble (crease)

-MAC Beauty Powder in Too Chic (LE, used as browbone and inner corner highlight)

-Victoria's Secret eyeliner in Dark Forest (upper lashline and smudged into lower lashline)

-Physicians Formula Organic Jumbo Lash mascara

-ELF clear lash/brow gel for eyebrows (loving this!)

If you have any requests or suggestions for looks, please just let me know!  I'm open to criticism/tips/advice.  Thanks so much everyone! 

xox

Darling Girl Cosmetics order and swatches!

I've been eagerly awaiting my first order from Darling Girl Cosmetics for awhile now, and when I received it yesterday in the mail I couldn't wait to try everything out!  This was my first experience with an indie makeup company, and I am hooked to say the least.
I placed my order during Susan's first sale, which was over Memorial Day weekend and it was Buy 2 Get 1 free.  It was also my first time using Paypal, so I really didn't know what was going on, haha.  It turns out my order got lost (as I can imagine how crazy busy she was with all the orders), but Susan was more than courteous despite the mix up- she included a few extra samples and a Liquid Kisses lip gloss which was so sweet!  I wasn't expecting that as I didn't even really know how the whole ordering process worked through Paypal and Ecrater (the website her store is hosted through).  I also got my package two days after she emailed me about the mix up.  Consider me impressed!
Anyway, onto what I ordered :)

Look at how cute the packaging is!  She wrapped my petit eyeshadow/blushes in the green tissue paper, my blogger sample pack in a little box, and my free samples+Liquid Kiss in the zebra packet.  She also includes a card along with it.  So nice!

Samples (eyeshadows unless otherwise noted), Top L-R: Belle, Sugar Minuet, Cider, Scarecrow

Bottom L-R: Dulce de Leche, Candied Apple (Kiss Me tinted lip balm), My Little Pony, Masquerade

Petits, Top L-R: Hollywood, Cydonia, Snuggle

Bottom L-R: Paradise Pink blush & Yes, Virginia! blush

Fuchsia Flush Liquid Kisses lip gloss

Liquid Kisses gloss in Fuchsia Flush

Samples (all eyeshadows):

L-R: Belle, Sugar Minuet, Cider, My Little Pony, Scarecrow, Masquerade, Dulce de Leche

Petits (eyeshadow unless otherwise noted):

L-R: Cydonia, Hollywood, Snuggle, Yes, Virginia (blush), Paradise Pink (blush)

Kiss Me tinted lip balm in Candied Apple

The sample baggies come with 1/8 of a teaspoon ($.60 each), and the petit sizes are mini jars with 1/4 teaspoon ($2.00).  Full sizes come in jars with 3/4 teaspoon ($4.00), although I didn't purchase any this time- I will in the future! :)  I do think the pricing per quantity is very affordable, though.  I also like that everything comes in different sizes so if I'm not sure about something, I can get either a sample or a petit jar to try it out.  And the full sizes are still a great deal so I don't feel bad buying everything in that size!

This is my first time doing swatches for a mineral makeup company, so I'm pretty sure my swatching  didn't do the eyeshadows justice (they were all done using a damp brush).  Since I will be purchasing from DCG in the future, I plan on trying the Stay the Day eye primer to help make them more vibrant.  I got so many compliments today when wearing them (see the quick EOTD at the end of this post), and each eyeshadow has so much dimension that I couldn't capture in pictures.  I love how pretty and soft the colors are, though, and how great their lasting quality is.  My eyeshadow looked just as fabulous tonight as it did at 8am this morning when I applied it.  They all have beautiful shimmer.

I love the blushes I tried- Yes, Virginia! is a gorgeous violet pink, and Paradise Pink is a light peachy pink that I will be purchasing as a full size.  The two I got are not quite matte, but have a slight sheen that gives a nice finish- easy to wear and my personal favorite.  They also lasted me all day, which was a pleasant surprise!  I wore Yes, Virginia today with My Little Pony eyeshadow and the Fuchsia Flush gloss for a pretty, girly look.

For lip products, I got to try one of the Kiss Me tinted lip balms in Candied Apple, and the Fuchsia Flush Liquid Kisses gloss.  The tinted lip balm is just that- a slight tint, but glides on just like a moisturizing balm.  The Liquid Kisses gloss leaves a subtle amount of color that is nonsticky and smooth.  These don't last too long on me, but I love the shine they give off (check out my lip swatch!).

Quick EOTD using Snuggle, Cydonia, and Masquerade eyeshadows

Overall, I'm more than pleased with my order and think that Darling Girl Cosmetics is a great little company.  I can't wait to make another purchase in the future!

Until then, what are your favorites from DCG if you've tried them?  I'd love to know!  Or if you haven't yet, what are some of your favorite indie makeup brands?  I think I'm hooked. :)