Glitter Tuesday: Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows for Summer 2017:

Welcome to Glitter Tuesday (back after a minor Nordstrom sale disruption)!

Just a spoiler alert, we're going to work our way through all of the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows before we start playing in glitter pigments and I finally reveal my Lit Glitters collection.

Today we're going to explore Stila's Summer 2017 offerings. They released three duochrome shadows for the summer, with a slightly different formula. Like the others, they retail for $24 each and are available at the usual retailers.

There are three shades: Sunset Cove, Sea Siren, and Into the Blue.

Let's start with the lightest (and one of my favorites), Sunset Cove:

Sunset Cove is a pink glitter with green duochrome. It's really tricky to capture, hence the plethora of photos. It's easy to distinguish from Sea Siren when they're side by side, but they might look similar apart,

I think you can see the green shift in some of these photos. On the eye, this translates into dancing light- and is totally wearable for someone like me.

I just wanted to remind about the applicator. You can use it on the eye directly. But the next photo shows you how I use it.

Yes, I use a Bath & Body Works candle lid as a palette. It's cheap and easy. All I do is pick it up with a tiny brush like a MAC 228.

Let me show you how it subtly glows on the eye:

Gorgeous and totally summer-appropriate. The other pink shadow? Colourpop Say I Do. I adore this shade so much and am close to being brave enough to wear it into the office.



Next up, Sea Siren. This is a light purple with a blue shift. I know it looks similar to Sunset Cove, but I swear that they're quite different.

I think this looks a little warmer than it translates on the eye.

This is a cool-toned shade with quite a bit more pigment than the last shade I shared.

Let's jump straight to it on the eye. I kept the blurry open eye shot in because the blue shift is especially apparent.

This is such a flattering, cool-toned purple shade. I think it's a great shade for spring and summer- and even the depths of icy winter. I look forward to wearing this a lot more than I have.

The last shade is Into the Blue. This is a deep blue with purple duochome- and I've been wearing the heck out of it.

This one is totally unmistakable.

Look at the bubble below- I told you I've been wearing this a lot!

More shots of this glorious shade:

OK, let me share a look that I previously shaded on Instagram that perfectly showcases this shade. I'm just going to drop the mic.

I'm in love.

Here's a group swatch (Sea Siren, Sunset Cove, Into the Blue) in Studio Lighting:

The same swatches, in ambient lighting:

Bottom Line: I really like these three summer shades. Yes, they're a different formula and require a bit of finesse to apply. Sunset Cove is one of my favorite shades in the entire range because it's so wearable. I also like the smaller glitter and wish Stila would incorporate it into additional shades going forward.

Glitter Tuesday: Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow- In a Firenze & Next to Notte

Yay! Glitter! That means it's Tuesday.

Welcome to the first "regular" Glitter Tuesday, which was inspired by my desire to review the entire Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow line.

Each of the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows retail for $24 and contain 0.153 fl oz/4.5ml of product. They're retailed at Sephora, Ulta, Stila.com, Beautylish, and Nordstrom.com. There are currently 15 shades on the market, including all of the retailer-exclusive (Ulta: Ballet Baby; Sephora: Violet Vixen- although there is reportedly an issue with this shade right now) and LE shades.

First up, the latest two releases: In a Firenze and Next to Notte. Both of these were a bit difficult to get ahold of- but I was able to get mine from Stila's site. Stock has been sketchy on that site and on Sephora's site. Neither shade is available in-store right now.

Can we take a quick side note to discuss how makeup trends shape our purchases? If you'd told me a year ago I'd buy two glittery red liquid shadows, I'd have told you that you were insane.

With that aside, let's get into it.

I'm so happy my camera grabbed the sparkle on the end of the box here.


First up, In a Firenze. This is the more understated of the two shades.

Looking closely at In a Firenze, it's a dusty, warm rose with silver glitter in it. Very on-trend- and wearable.

The glitter particles are visible, but not distracting. The base appears to be pigmented enough to carry the color when swatched.

This is a nice wand. Some prefer to actually put product on the eye with it, but I prefer using a tiny brush to apply the product onto my eyes for more precise application. That said, it is usable. Likewise, some apply this product without primer; I find Glitter Glue to be essential in preventing fallout.

Now, onto the part that you're all here for: swatches. The first swatch is with a photography light/studio light on, the second is with ambient/warm room light:

This is gorgeous and on-trend; I'd use this with the Viseart Warm Mattes or Naked Heat for certain.

I have a different type of look for you; I probably shouldn't have put this review up first. These can be used for liners and I wanted to show a crazy graphic look with a color like this:

That looks insane, right?  Here's what it looks like with my eye open:

I really love how this sets off my eye color- and now I'm interested in playing with more red shades as a graphic liner. My hoods make this 100% wearable because the glitter's contained within the hidden area.

If you're looking for my bottom line- it'll be after the next review.

Now, on to Next to Notte. I'll be honest: this was a 100% "must have them all" purchase. Because really... a red liquid glitter eyeshadow?

Unlike In a Firenze, which has silver glitter, Next to Notte has red glitter.

It looks like a blood red, and I want to purposely show you a wet swatch:

Under studio lights:

Room (ambient) lighting:

It's gorgeous, but I just don't know if this shade is for me. Unfortunately, this dries down a bit darker- which you'll see.

I was able to test this on the 4th of July, so I didn't feel out-of-place. Here are my actual testing notes:

"This looks stunning in the tube and on my teeny tiny brush (brushes ftw for application). But... where did it go? Hella patchy and... why are you migrating? Took two+ coats for opacity, even with a base of shade #12 of the Viseart Warm Mattes palette. And yes, I always use Glitter Glue."

I think it's pretty, and it took 2-3 layers and a hella buffing job on my behalf. It's the lid shade with the Viseart Warm Matte palette here in these in-progress eye shot:

It dried down to a dulled blackened base with red glitter. It's just not that sparkly on the lid, sadly.

Before I go into my bottom lines, let's gawk at a couple of swatches, ok?

First, with photography lighting:

And now with ambient room lighting:

Bottom Line: First, glitter is awesome and fun. This formula is so amazing that it inspired me to do a weekly tribute to glitter, for crying out loud! In terms of the overall collection, the frenzy on these two has to do with shade, not performance. Next to Notte isn't as blingy, and it's much patchier than others in the line. In term of performance, In a Firenze is the clear winner. That said, I think the OG release offers the best formula overall.

Glitter Tuesday Vol 1: Happy Birthday, America!

WOO! It's our nation's birthday, America, so let's take a long weekend and enjoy life!

And if you're not American, please just enjoy the glitter and my first attempt at drawing shapes on my eyes. WHAT? Please keep in mind your QBB is legally blind without her glasses. Double WHAT?

Let me take a moment to divert from the impending awesomeness to tell you how much better this post would've been if a company had shipped in a timely basis. I had planned to start a new series on this blog today that I've been dreaming about and feature the 2 new Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow shadows. And then Stila decided to take over a week to ship order #1. So, I started thinking about the best way to welcome Glitter Tuesdays to QBB, and then BOOM! I had a glittery American flag on my lid. WHOA. I did get them after I completed this look, naturally.

First of all, it takes a small army of products to do something fun:

Let me give you the step by step before I show my first real lid art attempt. Many of the products I used were limited edition, sorry!

1. Prime entire eye area with MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. Set with Kat Von D Bone down to crease, Kat Von D Linen in the crease and lid.

2. Take a small blending brush and work a mixture of Kat Von D Bone and Kat Von D Suede into the crease area to define the eye area.

3. Take NYX Eyeshadow Base in White with a small brush and cut the crease. Apply all over the eye.

4. Set with multiple layers of Kat Von D Linen. Don't stop until it's a bright white canvas. This is what you'll be building on.

5. Pick up a little bit of Giorgio Armani Liquid Eyeshadow in 2 on a tiny brush and pat onto the inner 1/3 of the lid. Build a nice consistent layer.

6. Immediately take a tiny brush and pick up Kat Von D Nebula and pack on top of the blue base.

7. Once that's all set, take a nail dotting tool, sanitize, and pick up a couple of flecks from Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Diamond Dog to create the "stars".

8. Set up an area with some Too Faced Glitter Glue on a palette, some MAC Fix+, and some Pat McGrath Venom Microfine Glitter. Work with 1 brush to slowly draw part of the straight line across the crease and immediately tap the glitter on. Build the solid line.

9. Repeat to create 2 more lines.

10. Pick up Kat Von D Suede & Bone on a small blender and buff any crease mistakes.

11. Get rid of fallout. Do your undereye concealer. (I used Tarte Shape Tape and set with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light)

12. Do your brows. I use a combo of Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow & Brow Whiz

13. Pick up Tom Ford Eye Defining Pencil in Navy Black. Line upper and lower 1/3. Pick up Sephora Collection Diamond Eyeliner in Swagga and line outer 2/3 upper/lower.

14. Inner corner highlight- MAC Silver Pigment.

15. Finish with L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise.


And here's the look!

Not perfect, but not bad for a first attempt, huh? Keep in mind I'm legally blind without glasses, too!

Now, let's talk what Glitter Tuesdays will be. At least through the end of summer, if there's a post on Tuesday, it'll be a glittery product. Even though I'm in my 30s, I still adore glitter- just not every day. And on America's birthday when I didn't want to post a review, this seemed like a great way to kick off this series... since Stila decided to not cooperate and ship in a timely matter.

Oh, well.  If you've got the day off, enjoy it! If you're an international reader, sorry for any celebrating Americans in your midst. We like to have fun once a year, ok?

Have a wonderful day!