Shiro Haul - Color of the Month Catch-Up

Well, sort of.

I'm a total completionist. I want to find everything in video games. If I own some books of a certain series it drives me crazy to not own the others - even if I've read them all. The same applies to make up collections. I have charts and graphs and everything. I'm a complete nutcase and I'm not ashamed.

So when I found out you can still get some of the past Colors of the Month eyeshadows from Shiro I jumped right on it. I don't like to miss out. (Although I did miss the link to August's eyeshadow. Next time though. Shakes fists.) I'm not made up of money, however, so I only picked up some of the older ones. Of course, while online shopping, you aren't going to get away with just buying what you were planning to. That's not how real life works. So I threw a gloss on top of everything because I kept hearing great things about Shiro's custom glosses. And damn. I'm glad I did. But more on that later. Let's get to that sweet, sweet loot.

That's the stuff. I ordered six COTM eyeshadows: Butts, Yzma's Essence of Llama, What Does The Fox Say?, Doge, Bowties Are Cool, and You Snow Nothing. I chose Women's Weapons in opaque for my custom gloss. Free stuff included samples of Goron Ruby, Are You Shear You Wanna Enchant That? and candy which I gobbled up tout de suite.

In typical Shiro fashion, everything arrived in a timely manner and packaged very securely. I'm always very pleased with my orders from them.

Below, I've thrown together some swatches and mini reviews for ya'll. Each shadow is swatched over bare skin, MAC's Paint Pot in Painterly (which is my most commonly used base) and Too Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue. I apologize, I realized after the fact how inconsistent my white balance/lighting was! Live and learn, I suppose. You can't improve otherwise!

This kind of looks like vomit.

First up is Butts! This color was released in July of '13. Shiro's website describes it as "A smooth golden-yellow khaki with soft velvety shimmer."

Butts over bare skin, Painterly & Too Faced Glitter Glue.

This is definitely an easy everyday type of color. It applies a bit sheer without any sort of base but it isn't patchy. A base helps though Painterly seemed to change the tone a bit. Butts shines brightest over the glitter glue bringing the gold to the forefront.

DAT SPARKLE

Next up is Yzma's Essence of Llama. This was Shiro's color of the month for September '13. It's described as a "...gorgeous deep metallic plum with llama-colored shimmer."

Yzma's Essence of Llama over bare skin, Painterly & Too Faced Glitter Glue.

This color is very, very sheer and diluted without any sort of base. I would not recommend it's use without one. Over Painterly, it becomes a truly beautiful deep plum with a bronze overlay. It's amazing and I didn't think I'd love it quite like I did. Slap this baby over an extremely sticky base like glitter glue and the color almost completely changes. Fickle as a teenage daughter.

"OMG, SHUT UP MOM. I'M BRONZE NOW."

Do what you want, Yzma's Essence of Llama. You're beautiful to me no matter what. Seriously though, I want this all over my face at all times.

Next on the roster: What Does The Fox Say? Following the meteoric rise and fall of that viral song we all know and loathe, Shiro released this color for October '13. It's listed as a "Bright foxy orange-red with a slight metallic finish."

What Does the Fox Say? over bare skin, Painterly & Too Faced Glitter Glue.

Another shadow that definitely needs a base. With a base it's very true to it's original description but I feel there's little difference between Painterly and the glitter glue. It does seem a bit brighter over the glitter glue but nothing life altering.

Over Too Faced Glitter Glue.

Next is Doge! This color was one of two for November of '13. It's described as a "Perfect peachy-gold highlight."

This lighting is weird, sorry!

I will admit - I can be a complete idiot. For some reason my brain completely skipped over "highlight" in the description so I was disappointed/confused when my first swatches came out so sheer. But obviously, with a highlight, that is usually the point. And this is a very beautiful highlight! Definitely something easy to use everyday without being too in your face. Over a good, sticky base it does turn into a lovely peachy-rose color. I will certainly be doing some experimenting with various bases for Doge in the near future!

The other color released for November '13 was Bowties Are Cool. It's listed as "Dark cranberry red with tan shimmer and blue overlay."

Bowties are Cool over bare skin, Painterly & Too Faced Glitter Glue.

Honestly, the description didn't interest me at all. (And Dr. Who isn't really a draw for me.) I only bought this shade because, once again, I'm a completionist, and you could get a good deal buying Novembers colors in a set. I'm so glad I got it however! Over bare skin it's a bit sheer and patchy but blended out it might pass. Over the paint pot, I got this amazing cranberry color with a bluish light duochrome. But the glitter glue is the best at bringing out the depth in this color. It's such an odd combination of things which is why I like it so much.

It's so weird; I'm in love.

Last but not least! You Snow Nothing - Color of the month for December '13. It's described as "Iridescent crow's wing blue-black, kissed gently by copper fire."

You Snow Nothing over bare skin, Painterly & Too Faced Glitter Glue

So, there was no doubt that this was going to be mine sooner or later. Any thing "A Song of Ice and Fire" themed is going to grab me by my bitter, hardened heart. (I'm waiting to save up and buy the entire Seven Kingdoms collection in one fell swoop.) And this color does not disappoint. It's sheer and very patchy without a base but over Painterly, the blue iridescence starts to show and over the glitter glue we get to see those beautiful copper sparkles! It's the little things that make me love this shadow. Definitely the essence of our adorable idiot, Jon Snow.

Oolala.

Can't forget about them free samples! Goron Ruby from the Legends Collection is described as "Deep near-matte red with subtle orange sparkle." And just look at it! It swatches so beautifully!

Goron Ruby over bare skin, Painterly & Too Faced Glitter Glue.

There isn't too much difference between the three swatches but the glitter glue brightens it up just a bit.

Next, Are You Shear You Wanna Enchant That? from the Randomly Generated Collection is described as "Dark brown-plum with bright white and blue sparkles."

Are You Shear You Wanna Enchant That? over bare skin, Painterly & Too Faced Glitter Glue.

A bit sheer with no primer, but still performs fantastically otherwise! Glitter glue is the way to go if you're looking for sparkles galore.

I mean, just look at it.

That only leaves one more thing!

Cersei doesn't want to hear any of your shit.

The star of this little haul: Women's Weapons Custom Gloss in Opaque! This has honestly sparked on unnatural obsession within me. I need them all. But let's not lose focus. Women's Weapons, from the Seven Kingdoms Collection, is described as "Strong red wine with soft golden shimmer." This translates into a gorgeous gloss. I was expecting a bit more obvious shimmer but I'm not disappointed with how subtle it turned out to be. It's vampy as hell and opaque in one stroke. It bleeds a good bit but is otherwise very long lasting without being sticky!

Here it is first applied. Because of how bold of a color it is, precision is key! A lip brush may be the best way to work with this gloss as I find doe foot applicators to be a bit clumsy.

And here it is again a few hours later after a tuna wrap, left over ice cream cake, goldfish crackers and part of a chocolate Easter bunny! (I'm pretty much a health guru, can't you tell?) The bleeding is very obvious but the fact that it's still on my lips at all is impressive!

Over all, I'd call this haul a success! My bank account feels otherwise as I'm about to make it rain glosses all day and night in this bitch. (Rebellion in Opaque, anybody?)

xxx