Girl on Fire Week - Review - China Glaze Capitol Colors - Fast Track

No flash, indoors.

Today's edition of Girl on Fire Week is a review of China Glaze's Fast Track from their Capitol Colours collection.

Although this color is now supposed to represent District 6 for Transporation, it will always represent what it originally was supposed to, Katniss Everdeen. Some of you may know that China Glaze changed the marketing strategy for this set, and I'm absolutely okay with that as the new marketing appeals to a wider audience.

With that aside, this has got to be one of my favorite colors out of the entire set. It's a sandy brown packed with gold glitter. The perfect every day color for someone who wants a little bit of pizazz. It reminds me of how Katniss came from The Seam which are the slums of District 12 but as she becomes the Girl on Fire, there's another side to her.

The color itself is a two coat color so a good formulation. My only complaint is that even with a base and a top coat, my polish tends to chip on certain fingers. I am very hard on my manicures as I type at a computer a lot and my phone is a touch screen so if you want this to last, a few touch ups will be in order. Luckily, though, the chips aren't that apparent if they're small due to the neutral nature of the polish, so I've not really had an issue with letting it chip a little bit. With that in mind, it stayed for about a week.

Overall, one of the best colors if not the best color.

Golds Fit For a Weyrwoman

As I posted, I wanted to do a memorial for one of my favorite authors, Anne McCaffrey. I wanted to do a list of some of my favorite cosmetics both high end and indie that fit the colors of dragons in Anne's world of Pern. I've been a fan of Pern and its dragonriders for 15 years and it has always been something that inspires me and keeps me moving forward.

From the Pern Digital Wiki:

Golden dragons are the queens. They are the only dragons capable of reproduction, because Kitti Ping genetically engineered them that way, and not because firestone makes the Green infertile. They are the largest of the dragons and are known for their strength and stubbornness. They only mate with Bronzes and the occasional Brown. The rider of the senior queen in a Weyr is the Weyrwoman.

I always dreamed of being in a leadership position like the Weyrwomen. So I thought I would start today with some of my essential gold cosmetics.

For the Eyes:

• The Imp - Geek Chic Cosmetics
• This continues to be one of my perennial favorites. The thing I like about this color is that while the base is gold, it isn't flat by any means. There are flecks of red microglitter that give it a spark and fire at certain angles. Some people call this a copper but I still see the yellow of the gold and the red as two separate colors. This makes it a great Pern color as it can be used in a look inspired by the Queen dragons or even the red star.
• Master Sword - Shiro Cosmetics
• This gold is very understated but gives just a hint of shimmer.
• Wishful Thinking - Sweet Libertine Cosmetics
• Although this color was only available to members of the Eyeshadow of the Month club, I wanted to list this here as it is a multi-faceted antique gold with green undertones.

Gold isn't really one for too many other types of cosmetics but for the nails, I highly suggest a gold crackle over black or even over a copper or bronze.

Review: Geek Chic Cosmetics - Win or Die (6 out of 8 colors)

Disclosure: The two full size colors I am reviewing were bought for me as a gift by a friend with no affiliation with Geek Chic Cosmetics. The four samples I am reviewing were a prize from winning fan favorite in GCC's Look of the Day contest.

Oh A Song of Ice and Fire, what a history you and I have. Not to say this is a bad thing but some friends of mine have been trying to get me to read the books for about six years. Little did they know all it would take to get me hooked was a single episode with an all-star cast. As soon as I realized Geek Chic Cosmetics was coming out with a Game of Thrones inspired set, I knew most of them had to be mine.

Win or Die, the new set, contains mostly colors with a shimmer and I'm not complaining at all. I tend to wear glittery and shimmery eye shadows regardless so this set is right up my alley in that respect. The colors I received were Across the Narrow Sea, Born in Fire, The Imp, The Pointy End, and Kingslayer. Two full size and four samples respectively.

Since I owe you some Geek Chic swatches from my previous purchase, I have included some that are in similar color families for comparison.

A lush, rich turquoise as deep as the sea at the end of the world. More green than blue, with gleaming seafoam highlight and a glimmer of aqua sparkles. Goes on opaqaue and smooth for even coverage. Can be used wet as an eyeliner. Not lip safe.
I think they got this description spot on. The color does go on opaque and smooth and it only took one or two swipes to get a good, solid color even without primer. I don't own any other turquoise colors like this so I was eager to try it out and I'm very pleased. I can see myself using it for LARP or even for an evening look.

With Flash

In Natural Light

Other than the inspiration, this color makes me think of mermaids, sirens, and other sea creatures of myth and fantasy.

The rich, regal violet of the Targaryens with smokey indigo depths. Silky, with a pearlescent sheen and a scattering of glittering ruby embers. Born in Fire goes on opaque makes for a smoldering smoky eye. It can also be used wet as an eyeliner. Not lip safe.

The swatch looked only slightly brighter than what I got but this was 100% a pleasant surprise. I own three other shades of Geek Chic purple and what I love is that each one of them is unique. You'll see all of them swatched side-by-side below. I think that this would go great paired with Naked Wedding, Game Over, or What's Under the Helmet? equally well although it's on the warmer end of the spectrum with Naked Wedding.

Top to Bottom: Naked Wedding, Game Over, What's Under the Helmet?, and Born in Fire
With Flash



L to R: Naked Wedding, Game Over, What's Under the Helmet?, and Born in Fire
Natural Light

Born in Fire in Jar



An opulent, indulgent gold as rich as a Lannister and overflowing with silver stags, golden dragons and glittering ruby sparkles. As much bling as we could possibly fit into one chest.

Arguably my favorite color of the set. It's more than likely tied with Kingslayer because they both blend together so well and make an amazing glittery yet neutral look. At first, when I swatched it, I couldn't see the red glitter in it or the silver but when I put it on to wear it there it was! An amazing color for Gryffindorks and people who just like gold. Since my pic is blurry however I will warn you that, like the metallics of the Fang Banger's Quartet, The Imp contains metal alloys so be sure to order a sample a test for an allergic reaction before using.

The swatches will be below after my review of Kingslayer so that yuo can compare.

A pearly white cloak of the Kingsguard which shines copper and golden in the light. The Kingslayer is iridescent, as multi-faceted and complex as the man himself. Kingslayer makes for a lovely highlight color and can even be used on the cheeks to add a coppery glow.

My other favorite color of the set. With a pearl base and warm gold and copper glow, this is going to be a go to color for me. I even tried it lightly on my cheeks as suggested and it is amazing. It goes well with The Imp although the other is an outcast of the Lannister clan and both blend amazingly well and have a smooth consistency. It didn't take long for me to build up a nice color even without primer either.

From L to R With Flash: Eyes of the Werewolf, Viking King, Kingslayer, The Imp

L to R in Natural Light: Eyes of the Werewolf, Viking King, Kingslayer, The Imp

A taupe with a real edge to it, The Pointy End is your graduation from practice neutrals. Pearlescent and smooth as summer silk, with a sharp silver glint. The Pointy end makes for a lovely twist on a neutral smoky eye and can be used wet as an eyeliner.

These next two colors were interesting for me. I definitely wanted to try them but I wasn't sure how they'd look on me or how I would work them into my looks. To my great surprise, The Pointy End looks amazing both as a liner and also with Kingslayer for a smokey look. The Pointy End is a bit more cool toned as opposed to warm like Kingslayer or The Imp but a great color nonetheless.

Like a sword hidden beneath the black cloak, Brotherhood of Crows is a dusky black base with a glint of metallic gunmetal. In the light, it shines with a host of subtle silver shimmers. Goes on semi-opaque but is easily built up to full coverage. Can be used wet as an eyeliner.

Another go to color for me, as I play many different flavors of Vampire in the Camarilla Fan Club I see my Sabbat character wearing this quite a bit. She's a femme fatale and sneaky. When I first applied this color it took a bit to build up but I was okay with that. That means I can get a light dusting of gray without it looking like too much. When I used it as liner it was great and smokey. I'm not 100% on what I would pair it with but it's definitely going in my experiment pile.

L to R: The Pointy End and Brotherhood of Crows

L to R: The Pointy End and Brotherhood of Crows

Overall, I am very impressed with this set. So many of the colors, even if they're close to others have a hint of something that makes them special. The Pointy End adds a bit of sparkle to a color that I use often as a liner and The Imp adds a bit of spark to gold with it's red glitter. Although I have to experiment more with some of the colors I can say all of these colors are a must have for the smokey eye shadow connoisseur.

As you can see by how much I've been reviewing Geek Chic, I would absolutely order again and again. When I've put notes on something, I've gotten great suggestions from Chantel and Deb on how to improve my application and help me get the most out of my product. This time, with the sealed jars, I also didn't have as much extra fall out which made me feel a lot better and a lot less messy.

Thank you to Chantel and Deb for holding the Look of the Day contest in the first place and thank you to my friend Jeff Allen for buying the two full size jars. Also thank you to everyone who voted for mt Cortana inspired look.

Experiment: Home Made Lipgloss/Balm From Eye Shadow

So, today I decided I would try my hand at tinted lip balms using some of my favorite eye shadow shades. I knew some of these would rarely if ever be put on my eyes but they are lip safe so I figured why not make glosses out of them? I found something that is lip safe and it actually protects your lips from chapping a drying. It's Vitamin A & D ointment! The main downfall of this is the fact that it has Petrolatum and therefore tastes like Petroleum jelly. The smell however does fade pretty quickly. The other issue is pooling but I like that effect sometimes.

Okay first of all, I am using Geek Chic Cosmetics eye shadows for this project.

First off was N7, and I really like how this turned out. I wanted to try for a little bit more color but I made the batch too big. However when this goes on it does enhance my lip color just a little bit. It also has a subtle silver sparkle to it as well despite not having much of the red.

N7 on my lips as a gloss.

Next up is Purity Burns, which is a metallic and uber-glittery silver. I /really/ love this gloss because it will add sparkle and shine to just about anything I put it over. With iridescent glitter galore, this gloss would be perfect for any ice elemental or snow queen.

Next up is Eyes of the Werewolf. An amazing copper with an amazing glitter. Works pretty much the same as Purity Burns.

Mmmmm Blood Bond. This deepens my lip tone a bit which will be great over red or brown lipstick to warm it up a bit. It also has a great glitter like Purity Burns and Eyes of the Werewolf.

Viking King, antique gold with lots of glittery pay off and the glitter shows in the gloss.

These are all of the glosses I've made thus far. I'm thinking of mixing up a shade a week using various lip safe eye shadows as pigment. Next week, we'll have Continuum and possible Sleeping Bucket from Geek Chic and I know I would love to turn their Glitter Grenades into a glitter-packed gloss.

EOTD: Daddy's Little Precious

This is the look I decided to wear for Father's Day. I chose the name because of the metallic, glittery touches on the inside and outside corners and also because my father got me into The Lord of the Rings when I was 9 years old and it continues to be something the two of us bond over. I also wanted something at least a little natural looking so that my dad wouldn't looks at me weird. ;)

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Sephora 5-in-1 Palette - Matte Mushroom Brown, Metallic Gold (not Antique Gold), and Metallic Copper
• Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Liner - Brown
• MAC Longwear Mascara - Jet Black

I started off, as usual with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. Patting it on my eyelid, brow, and below my eye. Once this was blended and a ready, I put the mushroom brown color on the main part of my eyelid. I was careful not to go too far into the crease or outside of the main lid. I patted some copper on the inside corner. I wanted to make sure to build a good base of color here. The same with the gold on the outer lid. I took the gold below my lower lashes.

After this, I lined my lash line with a brown eyeliner (Make Up Forever in Brown) on the top and bottom and applied two layers of mascara on my top lashes.

A relatively simple but nice look. :D

Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers in the world.