Thursday, May 25
Friday, August 5
Friday, May 29
Coastal Scents & BH Cosmetics Sales
Two nice deals to share with you today if you're in the mood for some online hauls:
Thanks to reader @rashi on Instagram for the tip that now through 11AM EST on 6/5, all Coastal Scents Hot Pots (eyeshadows and concealers) are $0.99 each on the Coastal Scents website (regularly $1.95). You can calculate shipping once you put something in your cart (it should be $4.05 if you use US First Class). Free shipping on orders $50+.
As you probably know, Coastal Scents has LOTS of dupes in their Hot Pot line. The charts on THIS POST are extremely helpful to get an idea of which shade are dupes/lookalikes. And FYI, Hot Pots are the exact same size as standard MAC pans.
Keep reading for the details on the BH Cosmetics deal...
Sunday, April 26
Coastal Scents, BH Cosmetics and More Spotted at Ross, Burlington Coat Factory and TJMaxx
Wait a minute. Coastal Scents and BH Cosmetics palettes that you don't have to order online? Can this be true?? Thanks to some lovely readers, I can confirm that yes, it is very true (and there's lots more!). Take a look:
First up, reader @clau777 on Instagram kindly shared the pic above of the two Coastal Scents palettes she spotted at her Ross this week.
Awesome, right? But that's not all...
image credit: @clau777 for Nouveau Cheap
Coastal Scents Palettes at Ross for $8.99 and $7.99
(regularly $20.95 each)
- The Coastal Scents Original 88 Eyeshadow Palette regularly retails for $20.95, although it's frequently on sale on the CS website (right now it's on sale for $14.95).
- Ross price: $8.99.
- The Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette regularly retails for $20.95, although just like the 88 Palette, it's frequently on sale (right now it's on sale for $14.95).
- Ross price: $7.99.
Awesome, right? But that's not all...
Tuesday, June 3
The Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette is here (and it's on sale for $9.95)
I received several emails, comments and messages on social media about this one today (thank you SO much if you took the time to share this with me!) so I know that many of you are excited for this! In case you haven't heard or didn't get the email:
Tuesday, November 26
e.l.f., Coastal Scents and Cherry Culture Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals starting NOW
I'll of course add these to my roundup but since some of these are starting NOW, I thought you might want to know:
50% off all Studio products + a FREE 12-pc brush set on orders $30+ with code STUDIO50 at checkout on the e.l.f. website. NOTE: this offer only runs now through 11/27 (tomorrow). BUT, I have just received word from e.l.f.'s PR that the e.l.f. CYBER MONDAY deal is as follows:
Tuesday, February 16
You asked: My brush collection
I've received several requests over the past few months to share my brush collection with you. It's not snazzy or extensive, but I love it and truly, each of these brushes gets the job done for me (and with the exception of one, all of these brushes retail for under $4, which probably shouldn't surprise you at this point!).
1) e.l.f. Professional Bronzing Brush (Special Edition, purchase at Target for $3. Currently not available on the e.l.f. website, so hopefully it will reappear at Target in March.)
I don't use this brush for bronzing because, well, I rarely wear bronzer. I actually use this brush for blush, and I LOVE it because it's sturdy, angled, and it fits the apples of my cheeks perfectly (I hate it when blush brushes aren't narrow enough to apply color on *just* the apples of your cheeks if you're going for that type of look).
2) e.l.f. Small Smudge Brush (retail: $3 on the e.l.f. website)
Not so great as a smudge brush, but HANDS DOWN the BEST liner brush I have ever used. I really need to thank Tyna and Stef at WeHeartThis.com for sending me this brush a while back to review on their site, because had it not been for them, I'd still be using a sub-par liner brush and getting mediocre results. I simply refuse to use another brush now for applying gel or cream liners. Try it once and I think you'll be convinced. Can't recommend this one enough.
3) Coastal Scents Deluxe Crease Brush (retail: $2.95 - I do not see this on the CS website currently, however the Blender is extremely similar and is also $2.95)
I received this brush from CS to review, and I have been meaning to talk about it for a while. This is one soft brush, let me tell you. And while my Deluxe Crease brush isn't great for applying crease colors (for me it's not firm enough for that), that's OK because I use it as a blending brush (aka windshield wiper brush) for blending my crease color into my lid color. It's excellent for that and a great value too.
4) Coastal Scents Deluxe Shadow Brush (retail: $2.95 on the CS website)
Here's another brush I received for review from the folks at CS, and it has also made its way into my permanent collection. If you take a look at the reviews on the CS site, the main complaint is that it's a huge brush. Take a look at it compared to brush #5 in the above pic (the e.l.f. eyeshadow brush) and you'll see that yes, this baby is large and in charge! But that's perfectly fine for me, because I've found a great purpose for it and it's one I use quite often. If I'm running late and I don't have time to apply eyeshadow but just need something on my lids, I like to apply the same powder blush I'm wearing on my cheeks to my lids as a sheer wash. I've been doing this trick for YEARS now and it really gets me by in a pinch. And this is the best brush I've used specifically for this purpose. You can just swipe this brush over your entire lid and crease area in one quick swoop and be out the door in seconds. Love love love it because it's super soft, yet dense enough to load with color and sweep across your lids in a hurry without having to fuss with blending.
5) e.l.f. Eyeshadow Brush (retail: $1 on the e.l.f. website)
The one. The only. The original. The best and most versatile eyeshadow brush I have ever owned. And I've owned this brush for so long it's not even the current color (the handles on these are now white while mine is old-school cream). I've heard people complain that the bristles on this brush aren't soft enough, but honestly that has never, ever, ever been an issue for me. I've written about this brush before on Nouveau Cheap, but it bears repeating: I just haven't found a brush that picks up color, holds it, and distributes it as well as this little $1 brush. The bristles are perfectly dense and I can use it to apply lid color, crease color, highlight color and also to blend all three. I bought it so long ago I can't even remember what year it was at this point, but let it stand as a testament to the quality of this brush that I'm STILL using it, and haven't ever had issues with shedding. It's still as perfect as the first time I used it.
6) ecoTOOLS Eye Shading Brush (retail: $3.99 at Walgreens and most major drugstores)
I haven't owned a lot of taklon brushes over the years, but this is one that I wouldn't part with even if you paid me. It seems to be a running theme in this post that I don't like to use my brushes for their intended purpose, and this one's no exception. I don't use this for shading--I use it for applying loose pigments. For me, it's firm enough and slick enough (thanks to those taklon bristles) to be able to pack on loose pigment while avoiding major fallout on my cheeks. (Note: the fluffier the brush, the more fallout you'll get when you apply loose pigments, so that's why I stick to this one because it's flat, uniform, firm and dense.) Once I've got my pigment where I want it, I can use another brush for blending. But for actually applying a loose pigment, I'll take this ecoTOOLS baby any day of the week. I know there are lot of ecoTOOLS fans out there already, but I'd just like to say that if you're just beginning your makeup journey and you need an inexpensive, quality set of essential brushes for cheap, definitely consider getting this set at your local drugstore for around 10 bucks. Worth every penny. BTW, I think I bought this brush at Ulta and it's $4.99 there, so definitely hit up Walgreens or Rite Aid for a better price.
7) Coastal Scents Chisel Angle Fluff Shadow Brush (retail: $2.00 on the CS website)
I have searched high and low for the THE perfect crease brush and I really want to thank Coastal Scents for sending this one to me. Let me tell you why I think this is the perfect crease brush: I like to use a dark crease color and then blend the heck out of it. If you use a brush that's a bit wide to apply your crease color, you risk depositing too much color in that area. That dark color is just going to travel down onto your lid and up into your browbone area once you start blending, leaving you with a dark eye from top to bottom. So the key to a defined, yet blended crease is using a brush that's just small enough to deposit a strip of dark color to your crease area. Then you can use a blender brush to blend it into your lid color, no problem. And THIS brush delivers. It fits the crease perfectly and applies the perfect amount of crease color every time. And it's SUPER soft yet firm enough to really get into your crease and apply color exactly where you want it. If your current crease brush has been letting you down lately, you really might want to consider this one--it's a true steal at $2.
8) Coastal Scents Wide Buffer (retail: $14.95 on the CS website)
I kinda missed the whole kabuki craze a few years ago and was late to the party until I received this brush to review from CS. It is so beyond soft that I feel like I'm running a piece of silk across my face whenever I use it. The only complaint I have about this brush is that, because it's SO dense and the bristles are so soft and baby-fine, it takes about a full 24 hours to dry. So when you wash it, you really have to think and plan out your next-day's makeup look so that you won't be sad that you can't use it. Other than that, if you're looking for a pamper-yourself type of kabuki brush for mineral makeup or (as I use it) for finished powder, this one is pampering and then some.
If you have any questions at all about my brush collection, please just ask! Also, I apologize that some of these brushes aren't perfectly clean in the pic above, but that's because I really do use them daily and I don't wash them all at the same times. When I took this pic, some had just been washed while some are overdue for a wash. :)
Do you own any of these brushes or other brushes from the brands I've listed? I'd love to know about your brushes and why you love 'em!
Samples of some of these products were given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
1) e.l.f. Professional Bronzing Brush (Special Edition, purchase at Target for $3. Currently not available on the e.l.f. website, so hopefully it will reappear at Target in March.)
I don't use this brush for bronzing because, well, I rarely wear bronzer. I actually use this brush for blush, and I LOVE it because it's sturdy, angled, and it fits the apples of my cheeks perfectly (I hate it when blush brushes aren't narrow enough to apply color on *just* the apples of your cheeks if you're going for that type of look).
2) e.l.f. Small Smudge Brush (retail: $3 on the e.l.f. website)
Not so great as a smudge brush, but HANDS DOWN the BEST liner brush I have ever used. I really need to thank Tyna and Stef at WeHeartThis.com for sending me this brush a while back to review on their site, because had it not been for them, I'd still be using a sub-par liner brush and getting mediocre results. I simply refuse to use another brush now for applying gel or cream liners. Try it once and I think you'll be convinced. Can't recommend this one enough.
3) Coastal Scents Deluxe Crease Brush (retail: $2.95 - I do not see this on the CS website currently, however the Blender is extremely similar and is also $2.95)
I received this brush from CS to review, and I have been meaning to talk about it for a while. This is one soft brush, let me tell you. And while my Deluxe Crease brush isn't great for applying crease colors (for me it's not firm enough for that), that's OK because I use it as a blending brush (aka windshield wiper brush) for blending my crease color into my lid color. It's excellent for that and a great value too.
4) Coastal Scents Deluxe Shadow Brush (retail: $2.95 on the CS website)
Here's another brush I received for review from the folks at CS, and it has also made its way into my permanent collection. If you take a look at the reviews on the CS site, the main complaint is that it's a huge brush. Take a look at it compared to brush #5 in the above pic (the e.l.f. eyeshadow brush) and you'll see that yes, this baby is large and in charge! But that's perfectly fine for me, because I've found a great purpose for it and it's one I use quite often. If I'm running late and I don't have time to apply eyeshadow but just need something on my lids, I like to apply the same powder blush I'm wearing on my cheeks to my lids as a sheer wash. I've been doing this trick for YEARS now and it really gets me by in a pinch. And this is the best brush I've used specifically for this purpose. You can just swipe this brush over your entire lid and crease area in one quick swoop and be out the door in seconds. Love love love it because it's super soft, yet dense enough to load with color and sweep across your lids in a hurry without having to fuss with blending.
5) e.l.f. Eyeshadow Brush (retail: $1 on the e.l.f. website)
The one. The only. The original. The best and most versatile eyeshadow brush I have ever owned. And I've owned this brush for so long it's not even the current color (the handles on these are now white while mine is old-school cream). I've heard people complain that the bristles on this brush aren't soft enough, but honestly that has never, ever, ever been an issue for me. I've written about this brush before on Nouveau Cheap, but it bears repeating: I just haven't found a brush that picks up color, holds it, and distributes it as well as this little $1 brush. The bristles are perfectly dense and I can use it to apply lid color, crease color, highlight color and also to blend all three. I bought it so long ago I can't even remember what year it was at this point, but let it stand as a testament to the quality of this brush that I'm STILL using it, and haven't ever had issues with shedding. It's still as perfect as the first time I used it.
6) ecoTOOLS Eye Shading Brush (retail: $3.99 at Walgreens and most major drugstores)
I haven't owned a lot of taklon brushes over the years, but this is one that I wouldn't part with even if you paid me. It seems to be a running theme in this post that I don't like to use my brushes for their intended purpose, and this one's no exception. I don't use this for shading--I use it for applying loose pigments. For me, it's firm enough and slick enough (thanks to those taklon bristles) to be able to pack on loose pigment while avoiding major fallout on my cheeks. (Note: the fluffier the brush, the more fallout you'll get when you apply loose pigments, so that's why I stick to this one because it's flat, uniform, firm and dense.) Once I've got my pigment where I want it, I can use another brush for blending. But for actually applying a loose pigment, I'll take this ecoTOOLS baby any day of the week. I know there are lot of ecoTOOLS fans out there already, but I'd just like to say that if you're just beginning your makeup journey and you need an inexpensive, quality set of essential brushes for cheap, definitely consider getting this set at your local drugstore for around 10 bucks. Worth every penny. BTW, I think I bought this brush at Ulta and it's $4.99 there, so definitely hit up Walgreens or Rite Aid for a better price.
7) Coastal Scents Chisel Angle Fluff Shadow Brush (retail: $2.00 on the CS website)
I have searched high and low for the THE perfect crease brush and I really want to thank Coastal Scents for sending this one to me. Let me tell you why I think this is the perfect crease brush: I like to use a dark crease color and then blend the heck out of it. If you use a brush that's a bit wide to apply your crease color, you risk depositing too much color in that area. That dark color is just going to travel down onto your lid and up into your browbone area once you start blending, leaving you with a dark eye from top to bottom. So the key to a defined, yet blended crease is using a brush that's just small enough to deposit a strip of dark color to your crease area. Then you can use a blender brush to blend it into your lid color, no problem. And THIS brush delivers. It fits the crease perfectly and applies the perfect amount of crease color every time. And it's SUPER soft yet firm enough to really get into your crease and apply color exactly where you want it. If your current crease brush has been letting you down lately, you really might want to consider this one--it's a true steal at $2.
8) Coastal Scents Wide Buffer (retail: $14.95 on the CS website)
I kinda missed the whole kabuki craze a few years ago and was late to the party until I received this brush to review from CS. It is so beyond soft that I feel like I'm running a piece of silk across my face whenever I use it. The only complaint I have about this brush is that, because it's SO dense and the bristles are so soft and baby-fine, it takes about a full 24 hours to dry. So when you wash it, you really have to think and plan out your next-day's makeup look so that you won't be sad that you can't use it. Other than that, if you're looking for a pamper-yourself type of kabuki brush for mineral makeup or (as I use it) for finished powder, this one is pampering and then some.
If you have any questions at all about my brush collection, please just ask! Also, I apologize that some of these brushes aren't perfectly clean in the pic above, but that's because I really do use them daily and I don't wash them all at the same times. When I took this pic, some had just been washed while some are overdue for a wash. :)
Do you own any of these brushes or other brushes from the brands I've listed? I'd love to know about your brushes and why you love 'em!
Samples of some of these products were given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
Monday, November 2
The Coastal Scents 56 Blush & Eyeshadow Palette is a dupe-making MACHINE!
You guys know that I love discovering dupes, but I had NO idea what I was in for when I received the 56 Blush & Eyeshadow Palette (retail: $19.95) for review from Coastal Scents recently. This thing is BANANAS for making dupes, so please stay with me while I try to explain it all.
First let's take a look at the actual palette:
You get six generously-sized blushes and 50 smaller eyeshadows in this palette. There is a beautiful combination of colors here and some are matte, some are shimmery and some are sparkly.
Right off the bat, I have to say that I've read a lot of reviews about this palette and one of the most common complaints is that the blushes aren't very pigmented and they don't have good staying power. But I've got to say, my experience was the total opposite. I'm quite picky about my powder blushes, so I had low expectations for these. Boy was I surprised to find out that the pigmentation was GREAT, and the staying power was right up with the best drugstore blushes I've owned. Seriously, I don't understand why these get a bum rap because they're definitely one of my favorite things about this palette. Oh and don't let these pics fool you--the colors of the blushes are SO much prettier in person. Here are my favorite three:
Now let's get to the eyeshadows. First I will say that my only criticism is that not all of these colors are created equally. Some of them look like they're going to be shimmers, but when actually applied they turn out to be sheer matte shades with a tiny bit of sparkle to them. Also, some of these shades are a lot more powdery and fragile than others that have a harder, almost baked consistency.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me tell you that this palette has a TON of potential to create some pretty darn amazing dupes! First let me show you some obvious dupes that needed no help at all:
So easy! Here's another one:
Here's one more:
The possibilities are endless with this palette and I know that I have only scratched the surface with these dupes. So just remember: the shimmery silver and the shimmery bronze are KEY to making dupes by layering different colors. Also, if any of you want the exact location on the palette of the other shades I used, just let me know and I'll leave that info in the comments for you.
Do you own any Coastal Scents palettes? Do you find that they're as rich with dupe potential as I do? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
First let's take a look at the actual palette:
(click images to enlarge)
You get six generously-sized blushes and 50 smaller eyeshadows in this palette. There is a beautiful combination of colors here and some are matte, some are shimmery and some are sparkly.
Right off the bat, I have to say that I've read a lot of reviews about this palette and one of the most common complaints is that the blushes aren't very pigmented and they don't have good staying power. But I've got to say, my experience was the total opposite. I'm quite picky about my powder blushes, so I had low expectations for these. Boy was I surprised to find out that the pigmentation was GREAT, and the staying power was right up with the best drugstore blushes I've owned. Seriously, I don't understand why these get a bum rap because they're definitely one of my favorite things about this palette. Oh and don't let these pics fool you--the colors of the blushes are SO much prettier in person. Here are my favorite three:
Now let's get to the eyeshadows. First I will say that my only criticism is that not all of these colors are created equally. Some of them look like they're going to be shimmers, but when actually applied they turn out to be sheer matte shades with a tiny bit of sparkle to them. Also, some of these shades are a lot more powdery and fragile than others that have a harder, almost baked consistency.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me tell you that this palette has a TON of potential to create some pretty darn amazing dupes! First let me show you some obvious dupes that needed no help at all:
Left = MAC Electra. Right = CS silver (location on palette: 1st row, 5th eyeshadow down).
Left = MAC Romp. Right, CS bronze (location on palette: 8th row across, 3rd eyeshadow down).
IMPORTANT:
When I discovered the two dupes above, I also realized that these two CS shades are the two most important shades in this palette if you want to create some other dupes. Let me explain.
If you want to make a dupe of MAC Tilt, just follow this formula:
Take two CS shades and layer them until they match MAC Tilt!
So easy! Here's another one:
Here's one more:
The possibilities are endless with this palette and I know that I have only scratched the surface with these dupes. So just remember: the shimmery silver and the shimmery bronze are KEY to making dupes by layering different colors. Also, if any of you want the exact location on the palette of the other shades I used, just let me know and I'll leave that info in the comments for you.
Do you own any Coastal Scents palettes? Do you find that they're as rich with dupe potential as I do? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
Monday, October 19
Review: Coastal Scents Hot Pot (dupe of MAC Satin Taupe) and Gel Eyeliner
I am absolutely delighted to bring you my first Coastal Scents review! Thanks to Coastal Scents, who sent me a fantastic assortment of products to try, I was finally able to test some products that I have heard so much about on other blogs and also on youtube.
If you're unfamiliar with Coastal Scents, they are an internet company that is known for their colorful eyeshadow palettes, as well as other extremely affordable makeup products. I did receive two eyeshadow palettes in addition to the products I'm reviewing today, so please check back because I will be reviewing those in the very near future.
Today I'm going to be reviewing the Coastal Scents Hot Pot in S35 (retail: $4.49) and the Coastal Scents Gel Liner in Truffle (retail: $6.95).
Let's start with the Hot Pot. Coastal Scents Hot Pots are a collection of eyeshadow singles that are dupes of popular MAC eyeshadows. They are sold in pans that come in plastic sleeves. The idea is that you can mix and match and put them into a customized palette, which you can also purchase on the CS website.
I received the Hot Pot S35, which is supposed to be a dupe of MAC Satin Taupe. Let's take a look:
It's hard to tell but I want to confirm that the CS Hot Pots are about the same size as MAC pans, so if you already have a palette for MAC pans, the Hot Pots will definitely fit.
I also received a Coastal Scents Gel Liner in "Truffle" which comes in a thick frosted glass container:
Here are some pics I took after applying MAC Satin Taupe on one eye and CS Hot Pot S35 on the other eye. In all pictures I am wearing CS Gel Liner in Truffle. Also, I did not use an eyeshadow base in any of the following pictures.
Now here are photos taken eight hours after application--and keep in mind that I did not use an eyeshadow base on either eye:
OK, I've got SO much to say about these pics, so please stay with me.
First let's talk about the eyeshadow. Now obviously S35 is not an exact match for MAC Satin Taupe. It lacks the bronze shimmer and the warm brown undertone of Satin Taupe. BUT, if you are going for the general look and feel of Satin Taupe, without the price tag of Satin Taupe, I would recommend S35. You can achieve the same type of smoky eye feel that you can get with Satin Taupe, and I was very happy with S35's texture and blendability. It goes on smoothly, it's not too powdery, I didn't experience any fallout and it was easy to blend. S35 is a deep taupish-gray and quite lovely in and of itself. As for the staying power of S35, it wasn't too bad considering I didn't use an eyeshadow base. Yes, there was some fading and the color intensity lessened throughout the day, but I think that this is something that a good base could remedy.
Let's talk about the Gel Liner in Truffle. As you can see in that last picture of my eye, this liner ran a little bit in the corner of my eye. But what I'd like to note is that this was after eight hours, and four of those hours were spent chasing a 2-yr-old around in 85 degree weather. Compared to how other liners perform on my extremely oily eye area, I'd say this one ranks right up there with the best of them. For me, the running and smudging were extremely minimal, and WOW does this liner apply like a dream. It's so creamy and it just glides right on, making it a snap to apply even if you're not a gel liner girl. Honestly, this liner made me want to revisit the land of gel liners, which have historically never worked for me (and believe me, I've tried 'em all). I honestly could not be happier with this gel liner. Oh! I should also mention that Coastal Scents has just released a ton of new gel liner colors and they are all on sale today only (ends at midnight). Check them out here.
One more thing I'd like to note is how the CS Gel Liner worked with the CS Hot Pot. If you take a look at the pictures of my eyes again, you'll notice that the color of the gel liner (Truffle) stayed much more true on the eye with the CS Hot Pot. In other words, I noticed that the color of the liner changed when I applied it to the eye wearing MAC Satin Taupe. The true color of "Truffle" gel liner is what you see on the eye wearing CS Hot Pot S35. This is a lovely, rich chocolate brown but the color seemed to morph and change when used with the MAC shadow. On the eye with the CS Hot Pot, the color of this liner remained vivid and rich all day long.
In conclusion, I would say that CS Hot Pots are a good alternative to pricey MAC shadows. If you're going for a similar look and feel of a MAC shadow, this is a good low-cost alternative. Obviously you're not going to get an exact dupe of Satin Taupe with S35, but nonetheless I think it makes a great addition to the smokey-eye family. And as for the CS Gel Liner, I could not be more pleased with its color and performance. Whether you're a gel liner girl or not, I think these might be a great addition to your liner arsenal.
A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
If you're unfamiliar with Coastal Scents, they are an internet company that is known for their colorful eyeshadow palettes, as well as other extremely affordable makeup products. I did receive two eyeshadow palettes in addition to the products I'm reviewing today, so please check back because I will be reviewing those in the very near future.
Today I'm going to be reviewing the Coastal Scents Hot Pot in S35 (retail: $4.49) and the Coastal Scents Gel Liner in Truffle (retail: $6.95).
Let's start with the Hot Pot. Coastal Scents Hot Pots are a collection of eyeshadow singles that are dupes of popular MAC eyeshadows. They are sold in pans that come in plastic sleeves. The idea is that you can mix and match and put them into a customized palette, which you can also purchase on the CS website.
I received the Hot Pot S35, which is supposed to be a dupe of MAC Satin Taupe. Let's take a look:
Coastal Scents Hot Pot S35 on left, MAC Satin Taupe on right
It's hard to tell but I want to confirm that the CS Hot Pots are about the same size as MAC pans, so if you already have a palette for MAC pans, the Hot Pots will definitely fit.
I also received a Coastal Scents Gel Liner in "Truffle" which comes in a thick frosted glass container:
Here are some pics I took after applying MAC Satin Taupe on one eye and CS Hot Pot S35 on the other eye. In all pictures I am wearing CS Gel Liner in Truffle. Also, I did not use an eyeshadow base in any of the following pictures.
MAC Satin Taupe w/ CS Truffle Gel Liner
Coastal Scent Hot Pot S35 w/ CS Truffle Gel Liner
MAC Satin Taupe
Coastal Scents Hot Pot S35
MAC Satin Taupe on left, Coastal Scents Hot Pot on right
Now here are photos taken eight hours after application--and keep in mind that I did not use an eyeshadow base on either eye:
MAC Satin Taupe with Coastal Scents Truffle Gel Liner
Coastal Scents Hot Pot S35 with Coastal Scents Truffle Gel Liner
MAC Satin Taupe with CS Truffle Gel Liner (note: I accidentally wiped my lower lid area forgetting that I was testing the liner, so that's why it looks like I'm not wearing liner on my lower lash line in this pic)
CS Hot Pot S35with CS Truffle Gel Liner
MAC Satin Taupe on left, CS Hot Pot S35 on right
First let's talk about the eyeshadow. Now obviously S35 is not an exact match for MAC Satin Taupe. It lacks the bronze shimmer and the warm brown undertone of Satin Taupe. BUT, if you are going for the general look and feel of Satin Taupe, without the price tag of Satin Taupe, I would recommend S35. You can achieve the same type of smoky eye feel that you can get with Satin Taupe, and I was very happy with S35's texture and blendability. It goes on smoothly, it's not too powdery, I didn't experience any fallout and it was easy to blend. S35 is a deep taupish-gray and quite lovely in and of itself. As for the staying power of S35, it wasn't too bad considering I didn't use an eyeshadow base. Yes, there was some fading and the color intensity lessened throughout the day, but I think that this is something that a good base could remedy.
One more thing I'd like to note is how the CS Gel Liner worked with the CS Hot Pot. If you take a look at the pictures of my eyes again, you'll notice that the color of the gel liner (Truffle) stayed much more true on the eye with the CS Hot Pot. In other words, I noticed that the color of the liner changed when I applied it to the eye wearing MAC Satin Taupe. The true color of "Truffle" gel liner is what you see on the eye wearing CS Hot Pot S35. This is a lovely, rich chocolate brown but the color seemed to morph and change when used with the MAC shadow. On the eye with the CS Hot Pot, the color of this liner remained vivid and rich all day long.
In conclusion, I would say that CS Hot Pots are a good alternative to pricey MAC shadows. If you're going for a similar look and feel of a MAC shadow, this is a good low-cost alternative. Obviously you're not going to get an exact dupe of Satin Taupe with S35, but nonetheless I think it makes a great addition to the smokey-eye family. And as for the CS Gel Liner, I could not be more pleased with its color and performance. Whether you're a gel liner girl or not, I think these might be a great addition to your liner arsenal.
A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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