41 Eye Shadow Review & Free Sample Offer

41 Eye Shadow Review
In July we were testing and wearing all 41 of our eye shadows with a critical eye for color, texture and wearability.  Also, we needed to pare down to 25 eye shadows. See which eye shadows made the cut and why. Results in red:

FISTFUL OF LOVE, Antony & the Johnsons

Velvet Matte Eye Shadows
Cream Matte is a soft delicate warm cream 
We unanimously loved cream.  It goes on nice and smooth and is actually a semi-matte with a bit of golden shimmer seen in the sunlight. It's a keeper and I will wear it more often.  Especially nice in summer.
Beige Matte is a soft neutral beige
Beige is a great neutral that goes on smooth and even and is almost invisible on the eye lid.
Tiger Eye Tan Matte is a soft & wearable warmed tan
Tiger eye tan was a pleasant surprise. I liked it alot. Good for warm/golden skin tones.  Tried a combo with Cream and loved it.
Peach Matte is a soft delicate delicious peach
Peach will be discontinued. We were not entirely pleased with the color and texture.
Woods Matte is a soft sweet neutral medium brown
Woods is a keeper.  It is smooth and good for the lid plus in the crease and outer corner for a smokey eye.
'Shroom Matte is a deeper taupe mushroom
We liked this color a lot. It compares closely in color to Bark, but we prefer the texture of Shroom.  We may change the name.  Morel?  Portabella? Mushroom?
Spanish Moss Matte is a graceful green/brown
This has always been a favorite of mine. Very nice texture and wearability.  It is a brownish green, but I would like to add just a tad more green to the color.
Bark Matte is a soft taupe
See Shroom.  This shade will be discontinued.
Orchid Matte is a delicate soft orchid
Although we liked the idea of having an orchid, the color & texture just never lived up to it's name. Discontinue.
Plum Smoke Matte is a smoky plum semi-matte
We unanimously love plum smoke.  It goes on smooth and easy.  Smokey plum semi-matte color. 
Smoke Matte is a deep plum/charcoal gray
I looked at this and thought, I don't think I will like it.  Was I ever surprised! I loved the smooth texture, easy to apply and the color is really a blue/gray instead of a plum gray.  I will need to change the description.
Cocoa Matte Liner is a luxurious warm deep brown
Cocoa is just so close in color to Woods and we didn't need 4 liners, so it is being discontinued.
Espresso Matte Liner is a rich highly pigmented brown/black
I loved this. By mistake, i picked up a lip brush with some residual castor oil on it to apply as liner, and the oil in the brush helped this to go on really nice and smooth and clean with few fly aways.  I will give some thought to this. Process with oil? Offer in a cream or gel? Suggest this in tips?  
Onyx Matte Liner is a rich highly pigmented cool black onyx
This is a standard black eye liner.  Devon used it for her plum smokey eye in the outer crease and it looked fabulous.


Shimmering Eye Shadows
Brow Highlighter is a soft 'see-thru' white shimmer 
This shadow had been recently changed and we love the results.  It blends from brow to crease perfectly! Then put an extra dab just under the arch. Perfect!
Nude Shimmer is a delicate pale blush
Nude was a disappointment.  Really just too light a color and texture. Will be discontinued.
Salmon Shimmer is a golden iridescent pink 
Absolutely loved it.  Similar in shade to nude, but with a depth of color and creamy texture we all love.  Should we change the name?  Does a fish not appeal to an eye color????? Shaded Coral??
Sparkling Champagne is an elegant golden champagne
We like the idea of Champagne, but the color and texture are disappointing. To be discontinued.
Amber Mist is a soft & beautiful golden amber
This is a favorite of my Australian customers with good reason. Nice color and texture with good wearability.
Cashmere is a soft & beautiful medium brown!
This is a favorite of mine, feels like a soft cashmere sweater.
Suede  is a beautiful rich brown with golden highlights
This is exactly as described, but what is lacking in the description is that this is an intense color.
Swiss Milk Chocolate is a delicious milk chocolate 
This was meant to be temporary at Christmas, and will be replaced with one Chocolate shade.
Mayan Spice Chocolate is a delicious cayenne spiced chocolate
This was meant to be temporary at Christmas, and will be replaced with one Chocolate shade
Belgian Dark Chocolate is a delicious dark chocolate
This was meant to be temporary at Christmas, and will be replaced with one Chocolate shade.
Peony Pink is a pink with attitude
!This pink is lighter than I remembered and satiny in texture.  I may deepen the color.
Sparkling Wine is an elegant purple red wine
We like the idea of Wine, but the color and texture are disappointing. To be discontinued.
Violet Pearls is a deeply complex & expressive iridescent violet
An original color, we still love this and stay committed.
Midnight Blue is an exotic purple royal blue 
This color just doesn't fit in with our range. It will be discontinued and replaced with a new blue. Mood Indigo?
Lavender Shimmer is a subtle light blue purple pearlescent shimmer
This color is very nice and I like the texture and wearability.  It was for summer 2011 and I am not sure if it will be continued.


Sparkling Specialties Eye Shadows
Silver Violet Illusion is silver with the illusion of iridescent violet
I love all 3 illusion shades.  This is almost a sterling silver that irridesces to violet in the light.
Vintage Gold Illusion verd green with the illusion of iridescent gold
I love all 3 illusion shades.  This is almost a silvery sage green that irridesces to gold in the light
Copper Bronze Illusion is copper with the illusion of iridescent bronze
I love all 3 illusion shades.  This is a silvery bronze that irridesces to copper in the light.
Diamond Turquoise is a Mediterranean Blue/Green and Diamonds 
This is just a beautiful color.  The texture is good.  I would like to keep it.
Diamond Sapphire is a Jewel Sapphire Blue and Diamonds 
We decided that although we love the color, it is just too blue for eye shadow.  It will be discontinued along with Midnight Blue and the two shadows replaced with one new blue... Mood Indigo?
Black Diamonds Liner is an exotic sparkling black luxurious eye liner
This is a favorite with my customers.  Similar to Onyx, but with some sparkle.  Thinking of changing this to a gel or cream in the future.
White Diamonds is a precious white sparkling gem
In the future, this eye shadow will only be offered in bulk for wholesale
24k Gold is all out golden sparkle
!In the future, this eye shadow will only be offered in bulk for wholesale
Bronze is a brilliant metalic sparkle
In the future, this eye shadow will only be offered in bulk for wholesale
Antique Copper is a gorgeous metallic hammered copper satin
In the future, this eye shadow will only be offered in bulk for wholesale
Antique Gold is a gorgeous metallic verd green satin
In the future, this eye shadow will only be offered in bulk for wholesale
Antique Silver is a gorgeous metallic steel blue satin
In the future, this eye shadow will only be offered in bulk for wholesale

In summary, we had fun and learned a lot about our eye shadows.  I hope this review has been helpful to you. We will be adjusting our formulas, listings and inventory based on the results of this review and maybe adding some exciting new shades. Thanks to my helpers, Christine and Devon.

Free Sample Offer

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK to receive a free mineral eye shadow sample!!  Look for a Facebook UPDATE that will be sent to all fans following the eye shadow review blog post, with complete details to receive your free sample in the mail.  One free sample per fan to the first 50 fans that respond to this offer.  This offer will be available to Facebook Fans only as of the morning of Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 7.

 TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SAMPLE:

1.  Look for an update message on your Facebook page 'Other Folder' on the morning of Friday August 5 for the discount code to receive one free eye shadow sample per customer, with free worldwide shipping.

2.  To use the discount code, go to our website Face Value Cosmetics, order the eye shadow color of your choice, select the size: Sample 1/8 tsp ziplock bag for $.99, then proceed to check out process and enter the discount code. This will assure that you receive a $.99 discount and free shipping on the sample.  Too complete the checkout process, please select your shipping class and payment type, even though the total will $0. See the sample order summary below and click CHECKOUT!  If you wish to place an order for additional items, you can combine the free sample order with additional items, but only one coupon code is allowed per order.  This offer is good through weekend only and will expire at midnight August 7.  See Sample Order Summary below:

Sample Order Summary:
Customer information	Alternate Ship to:
Customer ID: 1234 Name: NANCY ERB 15233 SCHULTZ RD City/Province: ALLENTON State: MI Zip Code: 48002 Country: US E-mail: nancyorrerb@yahoo.com	Name: StreetAddress: City/Province: State: Zip Code: Country: E-mail:

Sub Total: $0.99 Coupon: -$0.99 Shipping: 4 USA 1st CLASS MAIL  $0.00 Sales Tax: $0.00 Order Total: $0.00 Payment Type: Check

Please make sure that your shipping destination and method is accurate. Orders with incorrect shipping risk being cancelled, payments refunded and an order cancellation fee charged. Please review our shipping information page.

FACEBOOK ONLY SPECIALS

AUGUST: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK to qualify for our free give-a-way on August 31, 2011
SUMMER GIVE A WAY: Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets. See June 14 blog for details

SEPTEMBER: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK to qualify for our free give-a-way on September 30, 2011 

FREE ANTI-ACNE GEL. See upcoming blog for details

Blog Notes:  I do not have the time to post to a weekly blog as I originally intended and still keep it relevant & interesting.  Look for monthly blog posts, with interim Facebook updates.  I cancelled the Facebook App NETWORK BLOGS because it had too many problems and errors in uploading the blog posts and I was not pleased with the thumbnails it used. I am sorry for any inconvenience.  Nancy

Girls, Glasses & Eye Shadow

Lens Appeal

Rimmed Frames: to make eyes pop from the shadows that frames cast, line upper and lower lash lines, then apply a shadow in the same color family as your frames [for tortoiseshell, wear gold or brown]

Rimless Frames: eyes can look washed-out behind frameless glasses. Counteract the lack of definition by lining your upper lash lines and applying volumizing mascara [waterproof is less likely to smudge lenses]

Makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian, author of Style Eyes
Prevention Magazine June 2011

The Best Makeup to Wear with Glasses

By Bobbi Brown, A well-known makeup artist and  the founder of her own multimillion-dollar cosmetics business

Now that I'm wearing glasses, should I change my eye makeup?

Less is definitely more if you wear glasses--overdone eye makeup will clash with your frames and look garish. Specific eye makeup how-to's depend on your prescription: If you're nearsighted, your eyes may seem smaller behind glasses; lining your top and lower lids is a surefire way to make them look bigger. For fair to medium skin tones, stick with a mahogany or light charcoal liner; for darker complexions, a deep coal or black. Curl upper lashes and apply a coat of mascara for an even more eye-opening effect. Farsighted prescriptions often make eyes look bigger, so use a light hand--dust a neutral shadow on lids and brush on a coat of mascara. Because glasses also draw attention to your brows, keep them neat: Pluck strays and fill in sparse spots with a brow powder that's one shade lighter than your hair color.

An informative & fun video by Michelle Phan

Face Value Cosmetics offers over 28 shades of beautiful mineral foundation Mineral Foundation and 40 different shades of beautiful mineral eye shadows & liners in a selection that includes matte, shimmer & sparkle Mineral Eye Shadow

HOW TO  SELECT SIZE AND SHAPE OF FRAMES

Click here for More great tips at this specmakers website

Pull your hair back from your face and look in the mirror - what shape of face do you have? - well study the chart below and find your face shape, and choose the frame shape suggested to best suited your face.

Face Shape		Description & Glass Type
	Oval Face	A rounded chin and forehead; your face appears longer than wide and your forehead is wider than your jaw. The oval face is considered to be the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions. To keep the oval's natural balance, look for eyeglass frames that are as wide as (or wider than) the broadest part of the face, or walnut-shaped frames that are not too deep or too narrow . Consider most shapes of frames
	Rectangle Face	A long face with a square chin The oblong face is longer than it is wide and has a long straight cheek line and sometimes a longish nose. To make the face appear shorter and more balanced, try frames that have a top-to-bottom depth, decorative or contrasting temples that add width to the face or a low bridge to shorten the nose Consider large square frames
	Triangle Face	A broad forehead with tapering width down to a very narrow rounded chin. To minimize the width of the top of the face, try frames that are wider at the bottom, very light colours and materials, and rimless frame styles (which have a light, airy effect because the lenses are simply held in place to the temples by a few screws). Consider small square or rounded frames
	Square Face	A broad forehead with a long jaw-line and a square chin. A square face has a strong jaw line and a broad forehead, plus the width and length are in the same proportions. To make the square face look longer and soften the angles, try narrow frame styles, frames that have more width than depth and narrow ovals. Consider oval and round style frames
	Diamond Face	A narrow forehead with wide cheekbones and a narrow chin. Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eye line and jaw line, and cheekbones are often high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape. To highlight the eyes and bring out the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines, or try rimless frames or oval and cat-eye shapes Consider wider, bigger styles
	Round Face	A circular face, usually with fuller cheeks and a rounded chin. A round face has curvilinear lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles. To make the face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow eyeglass frames to lengthen the face, a clear bridge that widens the eyes and frames that are wider than they are deep, such as a rectangular shape. Consider more rectangular and wider styles
	Pyramid Face	A narrow forehead that widens at the cheek and chin areas. To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, Consider frames that are heavily accented with colour and detailing on the top half or cat-eye shapes

How to Buy Sunglasses

Excerpted from Allure/June 2011 an interview with Kristen McCabe, Sunglass Hut

WORK THE ANGLES To create balance, choose sunglasses that don't mimic the shape of your face. If your face is round, look for rectangular frames; square jaw & high forehead? rounded frames are best. People with heart shaped faces can pull off almost any style.  Classic Ray-Ban aviators are a universally flattering shape.

SHIELD YOURSELF Lenses should protect your eyes from 99% UV rays, check packaging.  For glare protection, think about getting polarized lenses-they block bouncing reflection.

FIND THE RIGHT FIT After slipping on a pair of glasses in the store, smile. The glasses shouldn't move from the bridge of your nose or graze your cheeks. Most metal frame glasses have adjustable nose pads, but mose plastic glasses don't.  If you can fit 2 fingers between the arm and your face, you need a smaller frame.

MAKE THEM LAST Wearing your sunglasses up on your head will stretch out tarms.  The are easy to adjust, any eye or sunglass store will usually do it for free.

FACEBOOK ONLY SPECIALS

JULY:  LIKE US ON FACEBOOK to receive a free mineral eye shadow sample!!  Look for a Facebook UPDATE that will be sent to all fans in July following the eye shadow review blog post, with complete details to receive your free sample in the mail.  One free sample per fan.  

AUGUST: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK to qualify for our free give-a-way on August 31, 2011 SUMMER GIVE A WAY: Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets. See June 14 blog for details

SEPTEMBER: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK to qualify for our free give-a-way on September 30, 2011 of a free ANTI-ACNE GEL. See Sept 1 blog for details

Note:  The 40 eye shadow review is complete.  Look for separate posts throughout the week with the results of the entire 40 eye shadow review followed by the free eye shadow sample offer!