Indie Spotlight: Innocent + Twisted Alchemy (Swatches)

Awhile back, maybe at the end of last year or beginning of this year, I made a purchase from an indie brand called Innocent + Twisted Alchemy I had really never heard of until I joined an indie-loving makeup group on Facebook. The owner, Linda, is in the group and she is super sweet and super awesome! Anyway, I made my purchase awhile back when I was ordering a ton of eyeshadows and fell way behind on my swatching. I really loved her shadows, so I decided to make another purchase with her.

 I will be swatching the shades I got before eventually, but for now here's what I purchased. All swatches are over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy.

Contaminated Wastelands (LE): "silvery-brown with a slight green sheen and shimmers" - from the

Draugr (LE): "dirty white with a dirty green undertone" 

Caviar & Foie Gras: "silver-y brown with blue sparkles" 

Little Crush (not listed on site)

with flash:

Lost in Dispair: "cool toned brown with red and turquoise sparkles"

Fragile Dream: "purple with a turquoise duochrome and light blue sparkles"

Acqua Mirror (not listed on site)

No Fairytale (not listed on site)

Aren't they beautiful?! I can't even pick a favorite! I am on a neutrals kick right now, but wow, I love Acqua Mirror! I don't own anything like this and I can't wait to figure out how to wear this and still have my makeup be work-safe. :)

 When I first ordered from i+ta, I only ordered samples. I was so impressed that this time I decided to order some full sizes (which I rarely do for any company) and I was definitely not disappointed! I can't wait to make another purchase with her! <3

What do you think? Have you tried i+ta? 

Indie Spotlight: Chequered Lily Apothecary (Swatches)

I came to work today and my boss says, "Oh yeah, you got mail yesterday." Yesterday. Awesome. When I saw the lime green envelope, I knew it had to be Chequered Lily Apothecary, a Canadian-based company with whom I've had the pleasure to buy from earlier this year. I'm still unbelievably behind on swatches, so I'll go ahead and swatch what I got today and work my way back.

I purchased the 7-sample pack for $4 plus $1 shipping. Pretty awesome! I love a deal! Kimberly, the owner, included a free sample of Invocation so really I got 8 samples for $5. Not bad at all. :)

Anyway, here's what I received. All shadows are over Pixie Epoxy:

Seafoam: "Soft Cool Sea-Green with Pale Golden Shimmer"

A Dustland Fairytale: "Pale Dusty Rose with Gold and Copper Highlights"

Invocation: "Creamy Ivory with Copper Shimmer and Purple Reflect"

Vanilla Lace: "Creamy Shimmering Ivory with bronze glitter"

Swatches with flash

Fireflies: "Inky Purple/Gold Duochrome with Green/Gold Color-shift"

Hearts in Ice: "Royal blue with subtle violet undertone and intense red iridescence"

Grimoire: "Smoky Plum with Pink Undertone and Copper Shimmer"

Stormbreak: "dark grey with red and pink highlights and silver reflect"

Swatches with flash

I love them all! I am kind of collecting samples right now so I know which ones I want to get full sizes of. My favorites of this bunch are Seafoam, Invocation, Hearts in Ice *dies*, and Stormbreak. I have no other color like Hearts in Ice, and I think it's really beautiful. The red shimmer in it is much more visible in person than my camera wanted to pick up.

Have you ordered from CLA? Thoughts?

Indie Spotlight: Femme Fatale Cosmetics - Part 1 (Swatches)

Sometime last February I placed an order with Femme Fatale Cosmetics, a company with shadows I had been lusting over for quite some time. Femme Fatale is an Australian-based mineral eyeshadow company that also sells face powders and some of the most beautiful handmade nail polish I've ever seen. Unfortunately, the polish isn't able to be shipped to the US since it is a flammable substance that cannot be shipped via aircraft (even within the US). No worries, I still got me some pretty awesome shadows.

Since international shipping is rather steep these days, Femme Fatale offers a deal for their international customers: sample baggies for $1.10 each and free shipping on those baggies! Pretty sweet. I actually snagged these babies during their Easter sale (goes to show you how much of a procrastinator I am, yes?). I ordered 23 samples and only paid $21.31! Yes!

Anyway, here are a few of the shadows I received. All are swatched over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy:

Candied Apple: "pale redwood pink with a green duochrome, and blends out to have an almost brown undertone to it"

Jinx: "pigmented mid purple with blue undertones and a warm tone (copper/red) duochrome finish"

Nightlash: "rich mid-range purple with cool undertones and brassy copper shimmer"

Swamplord: "rich mossy green with strong yellow tones and bold yellow/green shimmer"

Swatches with flash:

Archangel: " translucent yellow-toned ivory complimented by a soft violet duochrome shine. Archangel is very versatile and is great applied alone on the lid, as a highlight or over a dark base to make the violet shine pop!"

Genesis: "soft sea foam turquoise with light golden shimmer. Genesis is a great soft shade with just that little extra kick from the duochrome shimmer, and makes an amazing pastel-looking liner when foiled."

Crystalline Scale: "delicate pale thistle purple with pink tones and a soft blue duochrome finish, suitable for every-day wear or highlighting."

Azuremist [discontinued]: "pale light blue with very subtle pink shimmer"

Swatches with flash:

Oh my goodness, aren't these gorgeous?! I honestly could not pick a favorite out of all of these. They apply like a dream and are so pigmented. My camera wasn't able to pick up the duochrome in some of the pictures (like in Archangel), but it's there! I recommend Femme Fatale 100%. I can't wait until I get paid so I can make a big order of some full-sizes! :)

Have you tried Femme Fatale's eyeshadows? How did you like them?