Huda Beauty Rose Gold Palette Review

 

LOOK at this palette guys!!! It is so gorgeous, I don't regret this purchase one bit, it is seriously one of the best purchases I've ever made and I use it religiously. The colours are extremely versatile for any occasion, and the mix of shimmers, mattes, and textured colours work so well. I know everyone says if you have the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette then you don't need this one...well I've got both because I have no self control. I use both palettes a lot too. Personally, I think they're very different and I definitely get more use out of the HudaBeauty palette due to the versatility, since Modern Renaissance doesn't have a black or the deep brown and taupe...neither the red, or that bright pink like "Flamingo" either. Don't get me wrong, I love both palettes equally, I have a heavy bias towards ABH palettes as I adore them, so I don't think these two should even be compared. I use Modern Renaissance a lot for daytime looks as compared to the HudaBeauty because of it's warmer, lighter, shade range. The Huda palette surpassed my expectations with it's quality, all the shadows are highly pigmented, extremely buttery and have little fallout. The shade "Moondust" is an absolute dream for brow highlight and the inner corner highlight. I never thought I'd ever be able to wear red eyeshadow until "Maneater", it works so well with my warm skintone. Also I think this entire palette works fantastically with warmer and dark skintones, which I highly appreciate (thanks for thinking of us coloured girls Huda!). The Lord knows the makeup industry sucks at equal representation when it comes to shade range etc, thankfully they're getting better at it.

 

Now, for the cons...those textured shades...lordt. They are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L, but! You can't use a brush...well you can but the results usually aren't very desirable. As said my many other reviewers and makeup artists, it's best to use your fingers to apply the textured shades. They are just as buttery as the rest but they stick to brushes and don't transfer well onto the skin, when using your fingers however, it does work very well. That's pretty much the only con for me, and I'm not quite sure if it's even considered a con since I still use them with my fingers and I love how they look.

 

(Swatches of the first two rows of shadows, one swipe each. Ignore my fading henna.)

This post has been in my drafts since last year...do you see how much of a wreck I am? Fml. Ah well, also I can't seem to find a damn app to post to blogger from my phone so things are MUCH harder since my laptop has been failing me for the majority of this year. I have so many backed up posts to edit and add photos to, to post on here >.< Anywhooo, back to the palette, this palette gets a 8/10 from me because of the small glitch with the textured shades, AND the pricetag, it comes in at a hefty 65 USD which could be lower in my opinion, apart from that, it's definitely a worthy purchase.

xoxo, Shantilly.

Welcome 2017!

(This post is so late because I was out of the country [see previous post] and because as soon as I came back I got the flu and super busy with school and new projects)

So 2016 went by preeetty quickly (thankfully). It wasn't that great of a year for the human race as a whole, and once you surf the internet you'd have seen the countless memes about *gasp* the horror of 2016! I can't say they're all wrong or overreacting because I know some folks have had quite a terrible year (my sympathies). However, with some generous reflection on my part, I've come to realize that 2016 was such a necessary year for me personally. It was rough, I don't think any part of it was easy, but it forced me to grow up so much, and for that I'm extremely grateful.

2016 has been a year plagued by constant health issues, personal failures, not one but TWO car accidents, constant drawbacks, and many many breakdowns. But somehow, I've managed to find the silver lining, and not because I was looking for it but because it is what it is. Believe me that's an accomplishment in itself for me as an anxiety and depression sufferer. I was quite shocked with how positive I ended up seeing 2016, but also extremely happy.

So for me 2016 has taught me some of the most valuable lessons in the shortest period of time. You know some people have had a bad year? Well I've had a bad COUPLE of years...no joke. I always made 'goals' instead of resolutions for the past couple of years and well they never came to pass either way so for 2017, I have none. There are numerous personal goals which I have in mind but they're all works in progress and I'll keep those to myself for now. Back to my lessons learnt in 2016:

- You are so much stronger than you think. Physically and mentally.
- You can achieve anything you set your mind to.
- Hard work pays off.
- If you don't try, you'll never know.
- The Gym is a little slice of paradise. (harsh, painful paradise, but with amazing rewards)
- Not everyone is your friend, not everyone deserves your friendship.
- Even the people you consider the most can turn their backs on you.
- It's actually quite peaceful to be alone (especially if you're an introvert like me with so much going on in her head all the time)
- You are better off without people who feel like they can come in and out of your life whenever they want.
- You don't owe the people who have hurt you anything at all, not even a response. 
- Let it go, let it gooooo...all the pent up frustration, built up anger, and poisonous thoughts, they are more toxic than you think.
- No one can harm you once you believe in God and yourself. (that's not saying the people who don't believe in God will be harmed, I'm only speaking for myself with that one because I struggle so much with religion that grasping at it and holding on is a big feat for me).
- Your focus is so important that you can't waste it on irrelevant things or people.
- You are destined for greatness, and you will survive long enough to achieve it.

I feel like it's just done so much for me as a person that I can't say that it was awful. I welcomed 2017 with a much more peaceful and level headed frame of mind than I ever have before and I look forward to all this year has to bring. Best wishes everyone! <3 p="">
xoxo, Shantilly.

A Little Vacation Throwback

I don't think it's really a throwback that far back since I got back a week ago, anyway, hopefully this vid doesn't get deleted for these stupid copyright BS they're suddenly implementing. Here's a little summary of my Christmas Vacation :)

xoxo, Shantilly.

This Love/Hate Relationship

...with social media

I was thinking about it a lot recently, how much the times have changed thanks to technology. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those backward thinkers obsessed with the past and totally opposed to technology. I love technology, I will admit that I can't function normally without my phone, nothing to be proud of there but, I recently asked my little sister what our aunt's number (who we frequently call) was and she could not answer me. I was baffled then I realized it's because she never felt the need to learn it due to having it in her phone. As a child of course there were certain numbers I had to learn by heart, that aunt's number being one of them. So what happens if the phone dies in a time of crisis? Let's try to not even think about that tragedy.

Technology is such vital part of today's life it's pretty hard to imagine living without it at this point (for those of us who are fortunate enough to have access to it of course). Anyway, I'm sure you've all seen the ugly side of technology, the side that breeds a generation of entitled wimps, and bullies hiding behind their screens...Social Media, the side that incites jealousy and hatred for people we don't even know because they have more than us or "seem" to be living a better life that us, please be reminded that there's more to real life than "reel life," some of us seem to forget that (myself included at times). There's also the side that feeds our egos and enables us with visuals that only instigate our greed (confessions of an online shopaholic anyone?) and fuel discontent (because what we have is never enough, "but it's on sale!" "I need that bag even though I just bought a new one.") Now, I love fashion, clothes, shoes, bags, jewels, makeup, all of it, I love it. Nothing will change my love for it, I've loved it since I knew what dressing up was, wearing all of my mom's and aunt's heels and lipstick every chance I could get. But I've noticed that the more I see, the more access I have to it, the more discontent I am with what I already have, the more I feel like I need these new things. It's just not healthy. That's the side of technology I detest, the side that makes me feel like this, then I realize, it's all about willpower, something I surprisingly have a lot of in real life, just not when it comes to shopping unfortunately.

Anyway, I really noticed the positives lately when it comes to technology and social media in particular. Empowerment, social media is filled with so much empowering things that I've gained tremendous inspiration from, it makes me feel like I can do all the things I want to, and all those "impossible" dreams, suddenly feel very possible indeed. Amidst all the horrendous, unnecessary hate, the internet gives access to so many amazing things, it provides these social media platforms that give a voice to those who may not have had a chance before, those very same voices that inspire a large portion of people, the underground poets, writers, actors/actresses, to the future politicians and world leaders, from the smallest individual to the biggest CEO, all use some sort of social media platform. It's a fantastic outlet for small business owners to market their products/brand free of charge or at a very minuscule cost, and it's expanded the employment sector (youtubers, bloggers, viners, where y'all at?). It also provides us with a lot of insight into what's happening around the world...you know the side the news doesn't cover. It provides an entire hub of free education for those who are unaware of what's happening apart from Kim Kardashian's latest makeup look or outfit.

I think from previous posts it's evident how much I feel the need to make a difference in this world plagued by so much bad. I don't think that feeling will ever change, it's who I am, I relate to the pain of others and sometimes the burden is a bit much to bear, I just want to be able to make it a little easier for someone else. My love for makeup and fashion has always made me lean towards beauty and fashion blogging but I personally don't think I'd be able to keep up with that mainly because I spend most days in lounge clothes, no makeup and my hair tied up, so maybe there will be some of those types of posts, when I get fancy. But I don't think my blog/s will ever be totally centred on one thing because there's so many things I'm passionate about.

Back to social media, at the end of the day it's all up to you, how you use it. I think it's about time I use it for some good.

xoxo, Shantilly.

If I Were...

a month, i would be: december

a day of the week, i would be: sunday

a time of day, i would be: 4 A.M.

a planet, i would be: venus

a sea animal, i would be: a sea turtle

a direction, i would be: east

a piece of furniture, i would be: a comfy couch

a sin, i would be: envy

a liquid, i would be: chai

a stone, i would be: emerald

a tree, i would be: a poui tree

a bird, i would be: a hummingbird

a tool, i would be: a hammer

 a flower/plant, i would be: a peony

a kind of weather, i would be: rainy

a mythical creature, i would be: a unicorn

 a musical instrument, i would be: a violin

an animal, i would be: a wolf or tiger

a colour, i would be: gold

a vegetable, i would be: broccoli

a sound, i would be: the sound of rain on the roof

an element, i would be: earth

a car, i would be: a Bugatti Veyron

a song, i would be: paradise - coldplay

a movie, i would be directed by: woody allen

a book, i would be written by: paulo coelho

a food, i would be: lobster bisque or lobster risotto

a place, i would be: notting hill, london

 a material, i would be: fur (faux of course)

a taste, i would be: bittersweet

a scent, i would be: cherry blossom

a religion, i would be: hinduism

a word, i would be: soigne or nefelibata

an object, i would be: a book

a body part, i would be: collar bones

a facial expression, i would be: a smirk

a subject in school, i would be: literature

a cartoon character, i would be: angelica pickles

a shape, i would be: a heart

a number, i would be: 7

Bittersweet Thanks

This year thus far has been a bittersweet one. I haven't even blogged as much as I originally planned to. The year isn't over yet and even though it seems to have flown by way too quickly, it feels so...heavy. Despite today and tomorrow being filled with happy things (sales mainly for me), this entire year thus far has been a tough one. We don't celebrate thanksgiving where I live but of course we're aware of it so I'm going to mimic the traditional thanksgiving and highlight what I'm thankful for. It's always a good thing to acknowledge and give thanks for the things that make the sometime-ish horror that is life, worth it.

1. The Family - as overbearing and suffocating as they are sometimes, I love them more than anything in this world. 

2. My Health - which is forever failing me and costing me a fortune, I am still thankful it's not been anything too serious (knock on wood) and I'm still very much functional (physically, mentally is a different story).

3. Being able to go to school.

4. Having clean water, electricity, food and a place to live. 

5. Living in a relatively safe country - Despite the fact that we are plagued by crime, rising taxes and unemployment, and our government ministers are choosing to focus on how much the last regime spent on roti, Trinidad is still a safe, beautiful place, that thankfully isn't war-torn or falling apart...just yet)

6. My friends - the very few I have, I appreciate more than anything.

xoxo, Shantilly.

Je suis tired.

I am so tired of living in a society where violence has become a commonplace. It seems like every few months we have a new flag filter to change our profile pictures to, and endless #prayfor #jesuis etc hastags of support emerging. It's becoming so sickening. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying these things shouldn't be done, in fact, I'm extremely glad that they are being done, that this sense of togetherness and solidarity exists today in the midst of these inhumane acts of senseless terror plaguing our world. What's sickening is that we even have to do them, that these terrible acts even happen, that another human being could even think of doing something so horrible to others.

Another thing that irks me so much about these situations is that I've noticed the moment something like this happens and it goes viral, and there's an outpouring of support from the entire world, certain people feel the need to firstly point out the many other attacks across the world that didn't gain as much publicity. I understand where they're coming from, but why do you feel the need to take away from one tragedy by showing up another? (or several others as the case may be) As an individual, I try my best via my social media outlets, (mainly facebook and twitter as I feel they reach a wider audience) to bring to light all of the other issues and attacks around the world when they happen. I just find it extremely insensitive to use one tragedy just to ask people where there support was for another issue. Instead of using this passive aggressive method of raising awareness, why don't you all try doing it when the events actually occur? I know a lot of people do, myself included, but I also know a lot of people don't and they just show up when something big hits the media circus to put snide comments etc. I am very well aware of how the media works, and how biased it is, but that does not make it okay for you to make people feel like they're wrong for supporting one cause and not another (one that they probably haven't even heard about because like I mentioned, the media is biased). Instead, try raising awareness and making those attacks go viral the same way these do. I know that's easy to say and much harder to do, but it is worth a shot, and I commend all the people that do try to do this. All in all, stop being such a crappy human and adding to people's distress by telling them bullshit about not supporting other issues when they're already distraught by one.

A friend I went to school with was one of the first persons to post about the Brussels attacks this morning on facebook and I don't think I could've worded this any better than he has, so here's a direct quote:

"Is this honestly where the world is headed? Regular attacks on centres of population? Whatever the reason, random attacks on people are wrong- violence is not the answer to whatever plight you may be in, and as human beings we should not be creating situations where another group feels the need to resort to bombing an airport to express their feelings. It's on us to create a world where people are not forced into feeling like violence is their only recourse, and it is our responsibility to try to take the non-violent response. Actions such as this, Paris, 9/11, the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, all they accomplish is perpetuating this cycle of violence and hatred. Even if it's just one person, take a little time out of your day to spread a bit of kindness around, in this climate we're in right now, it really is the least we can do." - Philip Harnanan

xoxo, Shantilly.