Review and Swatches: Mary Lou Manizer

This was actually given to me by my husband coming from a quick trip from Malaysia back to Manila. He went to Sasa Shop in KL to buy this highlighter from the Balm, which I was raving about. I showed him a picture and to my surprise, he bought it for me. 

It has a cute packaging. I actually like all the packaging of the Balm. It makes me want to buy all their cosmetics. The Balm in general has a good quality line up of products. Their blushes, highlighters and eye shadows are pigmented and it has a lasting power. 

In their website, the description of this product goes:

Meet Mary-Lou Manizer, a seemingly innocent honey-hued luminizer that catches everybody’s eye. This highlighter, shadow and shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow.

Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 versus BH Cosmetics 88 Shimmer Palette

I received my UD Naked Palette 2 last February and now is the only time that I wrote about it. I've always been a fan of Urban Decay. I love their products. I was ecstatic when I heard last December that they would be releasing a sequel to the Naked Palette. I tried ordering several times online last December but it was always out of stock. By the time January came, they've already released hundreds of stocks because of the overwhelming demand from all over the world. I got mine from Sephora.com.

Anyways, if you're a follower, I'm a makeup junkie. I love makeup. Any kind would do, drugstore or branded, name it. Last year, I hoarded a lot of stuff from BH Cosmetics. I love BH Cosmetics. Specially their eye shadow palettes. 

Going back, so, I ordered the UD Naked Palette 2, as expected, the product did not fail me. Here are some pictures of the Palette:

UD Naked Palette 2

UD Lip Junkie in Naked

What I love about the Naked 2 is that it comes with the travel size Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Naked. The gloss is flavored. It tastes mint-y. The eye shadows are highly pigmented. Believe me when I say it is pigmented. Even if you scratch yourself with tons of soap and water, it won't come off. I had a hard time rubbing off the blackout eye shadow when it smeared on my bed and my hands. 

The down side of having the palette is that I have the BH Cosmetics Shimmer Palette. The shadows that I oh so love from the Naked Palette are almost identical to the ones that are in BH. I said earlier, the eye shadows from BH Cosmetics are highly pigmented. It gives the same effect with or without the primer. 

BH Cosmetics Shimmer Palette

On the picture below is a comparison of swatches from both Urban Decay and BH Cosmetics. Pistol and Chopper are identical to the shimmer eye shadows from BH Cosmetics.

swatch comparison of Naked Palette 2 and BH Cosmetics 88 Shimmer Palette

UD Naked Palette 2 retails at $50 while the BH Cosmetics 88 Shimmer Palette is around $19.95. It all depends on the consumer but for me, I'd go for the Shimmer Palette if you're on a budget.

BHCosmetics Haul

I'm definitely addicted to makeup and my hauls are unending. Retail Therapy is cheaper than hiring a counselor. DEFINITELY! LOL :D

Anyways...I bought makeup brushes and palettes from BH Cosmetics. BH Cosmetics is similar to Coastal Scents, just that BH Cosmetics is cheaper than Coastal Scents. I'm not sure. It's just my opinion. 

I bought the 88 Color Palette Standard Shimmer Eye shadow and I'm satisfied. It's quite pigmented. I love the fact that I don't need to use a primer to enhance the color of the shadow.

I also bought the 6 color palette contour and blush. I love love love this palette. A definite must have for me. I love the pink blush. The first time I used it, I thought it won't look good on me. I usually wear tan-ish color because the color enhances my skin tone. I'll do a FOTD and use the pink blush in the coming entries.

Remember I told you I'll be Snow White for Halloween?

Well here it is :) HAHAHA :) Taddaaaa!

I used the following:

• NYX Lip Smacking 511 Chaos (NYX Round Lipstick)
• NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Powder 03 Sand Beige 
• L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD in Natural
• E.L.F. Mineral Blush in Bliss (contour)
• E.L.F. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder (I used the Contouring Blush for the apple of my cheek)
• E.L.F. Eye Primer and Line Sealer 
• Lancome Color Focus Eye Color Quad in Romance (Used the purplish shade and the white eyeshadow)
• E.L.F. Beauty Eye Manual Natural Eye Edition Eye 6
• E.L.F. Eyeliner in Black