Year: 2019

One thing anyone who knows me could tell you is that I love  makeup.  Another thing I absolutely adore is Disney princesses. It probably has something to do with the glamour and the sparkles and the  fabulous dresses, now that I think about it. That is why when Colourpop announced their most recent collaboration with Disney, I was hysterical. Like Disney always says, dreams DO come true!  Not to dunk on Avengers: Infinity War, but THIS is the real greatest crossover ever.  All I need to live happily ever after is this entire collection- who needs Prince Charming when you have a supershock sparkly eye shadow?

The collection itself will be broken up into several mini collections, each one based on one of the iconic Disney princesses. Tiana, Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, and Ariel will all be featured in the mini collections, and I’m only a little heartbroken that Aurora and Elsa aren’t included. Oh well, guess I have to “let it go”! Each mini collection will include a signature lipstick, a supershock eye shadow, and a lip gloss. The overall collection will include an eye shadow palette and two highlighters.  The entire collection will be available for purchase, or you could buy an individual princess’s collection or the collection of only the lipsticks.

Am I gonna snag one (or all) of these? Of course! The individual princess sets are not that expensive ($18 for a lip gloss, lipstick, and an eye shadow), and the feature palette is $22. I will not be buying the entire collection, because like Cinderella before Prince Charming, I am broke (the entire collection is $126, which, all things considered, is still a great deal) and do not have room for all that makeup. The colors in the collection seem very versatile and wearable- lots of shimmers, golds, pinks, and reds- and I have been dreaming of some new lip glosses for a little while now.  I do have one itty bitty problem, however. Belle is by far my favorite princess (yes, we love a strong woman who reads and stands up for the ones she loves!), but the colors in her collection are a tad too pink for me. Tiana and Snow White have lipsticks that are much better suited for my complexion, and though while I adore Tiana (another independent and fierce woman who doesn’t let anyone stand in her way), Snow White is my least favorite princess. So, I am torn between buying Belle because she is my favorite, or buying Snow White because I want her dramatic red lip color. Decisions, decisions. Maybe I’ll just get Belle and Tiana, and rep the fiercest of them all!

I am expecting great things from this collection. As a self-professed makeup aficionado who also has no disposable income, I am not stranger to Colourpop makeup. Where else can I get super bold, super sparkly lip glosses and eye shadows for under $10? I love their super shock eye shadows: they have great pigmentation and very little fallout, so I can have bright pink eyelids all day (even without primer!). I also love their lip glosses because the formula is smooth and layers well, and is minimally sticky. I am not a huge fan of their lipsticks, however, because the matte formula is drying. I do like the highlighters, even though I use them as eye shadow (shhh!).

Ultimately, this collection is at the top of my To Buy list. I can’t wait until it is released!

Nobody becomes a pro overnight, and nobody can ever know everything about makeup without a few resources. In the era of social media and the internet, it can be easy to get lost in the sheer amount of information available at the tips of your fingers. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of my favorite resources on reddit- an online social media platform- to help anyone reading this and myself! Al of these communities offer great resources for both makeup and skincare, and can help answer questions you may have about your skin, makeup application, and sometimes even general life advice.

1.   r/MUAonthecheap  This subreddit is one of my all-time favorites! It is a constant feed of deals, savings, free gifts, and sample products from cosmetic and hair care companies. Make sure to check this subreddit frequently, as they keep an up-to-date list of online discount codes and special sales, as well as the gifts with purchase for various companies. It has saved me so much money and hassle! Be warned- this place is dangerous for your wallet, especially if you have low impulse control! This subreddit also does daily review threads on various products and brand, and is a great resource to help you determine whether or not a product is worth buying. I have been introduced to a lo of new and indie makeup companies through this subreddit, and it has helped me to save money both with discounts, and by helping me pick what is worth the money.
2. r/Asianbeauty This subreddit is all about East Asian beauty trends, especially the fabled Korean skincare routine (a notoriously long and tedious, but highly effective, daily regime of skincare products). China, Japan, and Korea have a booming skincare and cosmetics industry, and skincare is incredibly important. The products from Japanese and Korean brands are usually of great quality at a reasonable price, but many beginners are intimidated by foreign languages and unfamiliar ingredients (have you tried snail extract yet?). r/AsianBeauty does a great job of de-mystefying Korean and Japaneseskicare, and has very helpful advice for people just starting to develop a skincare regime. r/AsianBeauty frequently reviews products and publishes a list of the best products for various skin concerns (like acne, hyper pigmentation, or wrinkles). There’s a reason so many people swear by Asian skincare!  Are you ready to take the plunge into seriously devoted skincare?
3. r/Skincareaddition This subreddit is all about skincare as the name implies. There is a lot of great information about the causes and treatments for a variety of skin problems, from acne to scarring to uneven pigmentation. There are also reviews of different products, and people can ask for help creating and evaluating a daily skincare routine. Check out the sidebar for more information about different ingredients found in skincare products, common skin problems and their treatments, and a helpful guide to skincare terminology.
4. r/makeupaddiction This is the only true makeup (not skincare or deals) subreddit on my list. It is a great and helpful community full of tips and tricks to applying makeup and various makeup techniques. Want to know what primer you should use for glitter eye shadow? Need to learn how to do a cut-crease eye shadow look? Barely now anything about makeup but reading this post for an English class? This subreddit is the place for you. Guides for makeup application and product review threads are great for any level of ‘makeup addict’, and f you work up the courage to post a picture of your makeup look online, others will comment on were your weaknesses lie and how to solve them.