review: maybelline 24k nudes eyeshadow palette

There are some things I cannot resist. Like a new eyeshadow palette, for instance. One drugstore brand that has been consistently putting out new shadows is Maybelline. Over the past couple of years, they have released palette after palette - each with a different theme. Some have been wonderful, others so-so, and some downright terrible. Despite the hit or miss quality of these Maybelline eyeshadow palettes, there was no hesitation when I saw the 24k Nudes palette. I bought it immediately.

The palette itself had an interesting combination of shades. There were some basics (white, black, shimmery champagne, medium toned brown) as well as some rich shades (purple, olive green, and a brassy gold). There was a little bit of everything inside, making it possible to create quick and easy daytime looks or bolder evening looks. Which is exactly what I wound up doing. Before I get into the makeup looks....let's take a closer look at the palette itself.

As you can see from the swatches above, pigmentation really varies on this palette. Some shades are barely there and others are rich and bold. There were some colours that really wowed me (like that gold, the medium brown, and that champagne shade) and some that were not very impressive (like the purple and that olive green). So when it comes to pigmentation and texture, this was a little all over the place. Not to say you cannot create amazing looks with this palette. You absolutely can. It is just that certain shades take a lot more work to build up. So keep that in mind before you add this palette to your makeup collection!

Here are a couple of looks from the Maybelline 24k Nudes eyeshadow palette:

For me, this was a good and not so good palette. On one hand, I am really impressed with some of the shades and absolutely adore the looks that I have created so far. On the other hand, the purple shade is dry and appears more dark brown than purple. I expected that colour to be the stand out shade and it really let me down. My feelings are definitely mixed on this palette.

Have you tried this eyeshadow palette? What did you think of it?

xo Shannon

madonna week: re-creating iconic makeup looks

As you know, it is Madonna week here on the creation of beauty is art. As fun as it has been, this is the final post dedicated to this iconic artist. To go out on a fun note, I decided to re-create a couple of Madonna makeup looks. The first is straight out of the 80s and the second is a more current look. Think of it as a then and now type of post!

To start, let's travel back in time to the 80s. This is when Madonna's style was all about bold accessories and natural brows. To create the look, I used the Almay Healthy Glow foundation, an Annabelle eyebrow pencil in Dark Brown, the Smashbox Shape Matters Matte Eyeshadow Palette with Jolt all over the lid and Grounded blended up towards the browbone, the Annabelle Kohl eyeliner pencil, Maybelline Colossal Volume Express mascara, NYX Highlight and Contour palette, and the Flower Beauty Lip Suede in Berry-more.

Here is the finished look for my 80s Madonna. It was really fun to do and I was definitely loving that subtle yet smokey eye look that she had going on.

Next up was a more current Madonna inspired look. This one was polished, pretty, but was still bold. That double winged eyeliner gave this otherwise natural makeup look an edgy and oh-so-Madonna finish. In addition to the face products (listed above in the first look), I used the Too Faced Totally Cute palette for the eyes, the Hard Candy Walk The Line Liquid Liner for the liner, and the NARS lip gloss in Turkish Delight to finish it all off.

Take a look at my recent Madonna inspired makeup look. This is one that I love - and it has definitely inspired me to be a little more playful with eyeliner.

I want to thank you all for reading my Madonna themed posts this week. They have been a ton of fun to do. Please let me know if you enjoyed reading them!

Which look is your favourite?

xo Shannon

madonna week: quotes and moments of inspiration

Words have always inspired me. They have kept me company and given me hope in both good and bad times. Perhaps that is why looking through Madonna quotes filled me with an undeniable sense of purpose. I felt inspired, powerful, and in complete awe of her badassery. Madonna is one woman who is totally unafraid to voice her opinion, share her thoughts, and stand tall. This is something that motivates me to be more open and honest about how I feel. A lot of times, I keep my opinions to myself or do what I can to keep the peace. What I think is rarely what I say. Especially around people that I do not know very well. Maybe I need to start thinking: What Would Madonna Say? She is bold, brave, and strong. And I can be, too. I just need to remind myself sometimes!

For today's post, I have collected a few of my all-time favourite Madonna quotes. They are a huge source of inspiration to me. As you go through these Madonna quotes, I challenge you to bring her strength with you throughout the day. And maybe, just maybe, ask yourself: What Would Madonna Say?

Hopefully this post inspired you to bring out your inner Madonna - and make this life as beautiful and unique as possible. Shine your light and never forget how incredible you are.

What is your favourite Madonna quote?

xo Shannon

madonna week: love it or leave it

Welcome to another Madonna week post! This has definitely been a lot of fun to do so far. Please let me know if you like the idea of a theme week. If you guys are into it, I will do them every now and again with a fashion or beauty icon that inspires me. For now...here is a fun Madonna themed post. It is a love or or leave it? featuring her outfit from the "Bitch I'm Madonna" music video. Let me just say, I adore this song and the video is super fun and high energy. It also features yet another bold outfit for Madonna to add to her extensive resume.

What I Love: I'll be honest here....this outfit makes me happy. I won't lie to you and pretend to be a sophisticated, glamorous kind of person. I like clothes that have personality. This outfit absolutely has personality. The pink studded leather jacket is incredible and I desperately wish it was hanging in my closet right now. The white leopard print dress is gorgeous and I love that there is a belt to break up the print a little bit. Something else I love? Those shoes! You can see in the mirror reflection that she has paired this look with sneakers. Talk about perfect! This look is edgy, bold, and fun. Which is exactly what fashion should be.

What I Loathe: There isn't anything here that I flat out cannot stand....but there is always room for improvement! The only thing that doesn't work for me is the hair. While on it's own, the pink ombre is really cool, the colour blends into the pink leather jacket. It becomes a mess of pink and overshadows the details on the jacket. Other than that? This outfit is everything I love. Exciting, fun, and borderline tacky.

Overall, this is a definite love for me. I know that I will likely be in the minority on this (because pink leather, studs, and leopard print are rarely praised) but this is everything I love about style. It is exciting and has a distinct point of view. This is something I hope to achieve with my everyday looks. One thing is certain: I will be taking a page from Madonna's book this week!

On another note....don't forget to check out my latest YouTube video! It is all about the Too Faced Power of Makeup palette.


What do you think of this look? Love it or leave it?

xo Shannon

madonna week: style highlights

Few are as iconic (or memorable) as Madonna. It was a while back now, but a friend and I were watching the music video for "Bitch I'm Madonna," and waxing poetic about her career, her strong character, and of course, her incredible sense of style. Needless to say, we were inspired. That is when my friend suggested that I dedicate an entire week of posts to the incomparable Madonna. Genius! Finally, I have been able to sit down and create some pop-icon themed posts. Today's is all about her bold fashion choices.

If there is one thing Madonna is known for (apart from her music career) it has to be her style. Over the years, she has worn every possible combination of pieces. From bangles and bracelets to leather jackets, oversized suits, metallic leotards, country chic ensembles, and wild over the top creations....there is nothing this iconic singer has not strutted her stuff in. For me? This is a huge source of inspiration. I find these days, people like the idea of having a specific type of style. You know, preppy, trendy, glamorous, and so on. Not me. I like to embrace different styles on different days. It all depends on how I feel and what my current inspirations are.

On that note....here is an outfit I created that was inspired by the one and only Madonna.

Still searching for more Madonna inspiration? Never fear. Here are a few of her most unforgettable outfits. Be sure to let me know which one is your personal favourite!

So there it is. The first post in my Madonna week series. Expect some exciting Madonna themed posts in the days to come! Expect to see quotes and even a love it or leave it featuring this incredible artist and pop culture icon.

Which outfit is your favourite? Who inspires your style?

xo Shannon

current obsession: metallic everything

Sometimes? Inspiration unexpectedly takes over. That is exactly what happened when I saw the dress Paris Hilton wore to accept her award for Best Fragrance of the Year (for Gold Rush, which I reviewed recently). It was so glittery, shimmery, and bold. Her accessories were equally exciting....from the chunky metallic earrings to that textured silver purse and those chrome heels. There was nothing simple or understated about this look! 

Since she stepped out in a full blown metallic ensemble, my makeup and fashion choices have been metallic, metallic, and more metallic. I've been reaching for silver, gold, and rose gold at every available opportunity. I've been creating collages, grabbing my Hard Candy metallic lipsticks, incorporating glitter into my makeup looks, and looking for ultra shimmery nail polish shades. There is nothing more exciting to me at the moment. 

On that note, here is a dose of metallic inspiration for you to enjoy. Let it bring you joy and inspire your next outfit. Oh, and be sure to let me know which piece (or beauty product) below you love most! 

Inspiration always starts somewhere. For me, it all began with Paris Hilton's incredible red carpet dress. The head to toe shimmery silver started a full blown metallic obsession.

Editing Note: Since Paris Hilton has decided to publicly support an abusive man, her products will no longer be reviewed on the creation of beauty is art. All previous reviews will remain, but no new content will be shared. 

What is your current obsession? Do you love wearing metallic pieces?

xo Shannon

lea michele: love it or leave it?

There are certain Hollywood actresses that stand out from the crowd. Ones that know when exactly when (and how) to take a fashion risk. For the most part, Lea Michele falls into that category. Time and time again, her red carpet style has left me in awe. She loves to play with colour, shape, and texture. Most of the time? She looks stunning. But there is the odd time when her fashion risk fails to pay off. The picture above is of Lea at the recent Hollywood Beauty Award ceremony. It has certainly been a polarizing look, so.....love it or leave it?

What I Love: This outfit is such a hit and miss for me. There are certain elements that work and others that completely miss the mark. To start with, let's focus on the positive aspects of this outfit. I am loving her hairstyle (it is simple but sleek and doesn't overpower this bold dress) and makeup (that shade of red looks perfect on her). I also am a big fan of the neckline (it is interesting, unique, and head turning) and the print of the dress (it's a little bit 90s but still has a sophisticated finish). Certainly quite a few loves here!

What I Loathe: Now for the things that I did not love. Unfortunately, there are a number of aspects that I don't feel were successful. While I love the neckline of this dress, the slouchy sleeves were a miss, as was the length of the dress, and that high cut slit up the side. Why? All of those different elements put together created a dress that was all over the place. There were too many design elements screaming for attention! If the slit up the side was removed....this would have looked so much better. The removal of just one of those details would have made a huge difference. Other no-no's included the nail colour (I love it in general but it goes a little too vampy when you have a deep red lipstick and a dark dress) and those strappy shoes (the straps looked way too busy when the dress itself was already very busy). Overall, it was just way too much look going on!

While I love Lea Michele and think she has great red carpet style....this look scores a leave it from me. There were simply too many design elements fighting for attention.

Something I do adore? The makeup look that I created using the Too Faced Power of Makeup palette. Take a look at my latest YouTube video and let me know what you think of it.


What do you think? Love it or leave it?

xo Shannon