Hey everyone!
How has the week been treating you? Mine started fine, and then I got a horribly sore throat! It started small on Tuesday, and then in the night & early Wednesday things got worse. I could tell I had a fever in the night, and my throat hurt so bad- I had to really strain to talk and swallow. Needless to say, I couldn't go to work & anchor the news! Wednesday afternoon I saw the doctor and he prescribed me antibiotics for strep throat. He said I'd be contagious for about 24 hours and confirmed for me that my throat was "super swollen". It was definitely worse than any sore throat I've ever had, and it has restricted my voice big time. So I wasn't able to to go work today either. (Our first day in HD, I'm bummed). My throat still hurts a lot, but I don't feel the headachey, feverish, borderline ear-ache symptoms I had yesterday. I've purchased some soft, cool foods like yogurt, applesauce, and also some popsicles- which are supposed to soothe the swelling.
My advice- see a doctor if you are experiencing an unrelenting sore throat that's affecting your ability so speak and swallow. Nip it in the bud before it turns into something worse! Thanks to all who've
tweeted me and
facebooked me with kind messages!! :)
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Now to the content you're really after-- my review of the Stylish Smokes quads! I opted to do this in blog form due to my vocal difficulties. Thanks to
Ashley for requesting this! She's a regular on the
Beauty Broadcast facebook page & has also started
her own YouTube channel.
This collection is not brand new to Maybelline. It's been out for awhile, but not until recently have I purchased the entire set. They cost somewhere between 5 & 6 bucks, depending on location. As you can see, you get a generous amount of each shade, and 2 sponge tip applicators with each palette. All palettes label the shades as lid, crease, brow bone, and outer corner. It's a good default way to apply them, but use your own preferences and creativity to create different looks! Overall, I REALLY like these palettes because each of them comes with a really dark shade! So many drugstore palettes give you 3 or 4 colors that are all light to medium shades with nothing to really give you some contrast! Read on to see how I feel about each individual palette!
left to right: Natural Smokes, Charcoal Smokes, Emerald Smokes, Amethyst Smokes
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NATURAL SMOKES
The Natural Smokes quad is my favorite! While all of the other palettes contain shimmer in all of their colors, this palette has 2 matte shades (the bottom 2). ALL of these colors are pigmented, and those top 2 colors are truly gorgeous! (shimmery taupe & shimmery brownish-copper). You can get a really nice smokey eye with this kit- and that matte brown is super blendable and BUILDABLE. Terrific palette for fall! Gives you lots of options- you can leave out the dark brown for a more natural look- or use the brown as a liner!
CHARCOAL SMOKES
This was the first palette I purchased from the Stylish Smokes collection. Because I wasn't absolutely crazy about it, I didn't go ahead & purchase the others for awhile (had to be convinced by fellow youtubers). I think those top 2 shimmery shades are fabulous, the highlight shade was nice, but not really unique, and the black shade was a disappointment. I had to dip back into the palette
3 to 4 times to get the swatch you see there of the black. You CAN build it up on your eye to get some contrast, but I will usually turn to another black in my collection from NYX, MAC, or Cover Girl that is easier to work with-- with less effort. Out of the four, this palette probably comes in 4th place-- but it's still not
bad and I wear it quite often to work (minus the black shade)
EMERALD SMOKES
YAY for Emerald Smokes. This is a close, close second for me behind Natural Smokes. The shades in this palette are SO unique- I don't run across them very often in the drugstore. I love the way this looks on my eyes! You really can achieve anywhere from a subtle olive look to a deep sultry green look! I like wearing the brighter green labeled "crease" all over my lid- because it really pops! The brow bone shade has a pretty yellow undertone- SO gorgeous! And that darkest green with sparkle is truly pigmented and DARK! I loved using this palette in my
Michigan State gameday look & got lots of good feedback. All of the shades are shimmery, but they're all so beautiful, I don't mind :)
AMETHYST SMOKES
Amethyst smokes- the last palette I picked up in this collection. That gorgeous purple with the blue undertone kept drawing me in, but I could tell that the black was the exact same black that was in Charcoal smokes & I knew I hated that color! Seriously, Maybelline!
Why would you re-use the single worst color in the whole collection?! I'm not trying to be mean, but come on! That purple shade on the upper left is beautiful, and the other purple is lovely as well. The light shade is nothing all that special. The purples are the saving grace of this palette and
have allowed me to create some lovely looks. Just be prepared to sub in a better plum or black for the black that comes with the set. This palette is 3rd place for me.
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That's all everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read this long blog! Hopefully it gives you some solid info on these palettes & lets you know what ones you might be interested in buying! Have a good day & good luck to all the others out there who are dealing with sickness as the weather changes! Feel better soon! :)
♥
Em
Ross the Racing Superfan! 
