Zoeva brushes review.

I wanted for the longest time to try the Zoeva brushes and when they launched their new line, I decided to try a couple.

I chose the: 

• 102 Silk Finish (10,50€)
• 109 Face Paint (12,50€)
• 224 Luxe Defined Crease (6,20€)

Shipping costs: 7,50€

First of all, I love them all. They're very soft, work beautifully and wash easily. 

Here are my thoughts on them:

102 Silk Finish: it is quite similar to another brush that I love, the Sephora Mineral Powder brush (that costs about 16€ if I'm not mistaken). It blends everything perfectly, liquid foundation, mineral foundation, blush, bronzer, creams and powders, you name it. It is beyond comparison to the Sigma F82 Round Kabuki that I also own because the Sigma one is too dense and moves the product around.

Here they are:

109 Face Paint: I 'be been looking for a contouring brush for quite some time but the available options (Mac, Illamasqua, Nars) are quite expensive. So, when Zoeva launced this one i decided to give it a try and i'm so happy i did! It has the perfect size, not too big not too small, and i can achieve a sharp contour if i desire so or a more diffused and natural result, for everyday use. It works perfectly with cream and powder products. I have also used it with highlight, blush, even foundation, works like a dream every time. It also washes easily and it doesn't get stained.

224 Luxe Defined Crease: i'm a Mac 217 fanatic (who isn't?) but i find that on my eyes it blends the crease color a little too widely, it reaches quite high and when i want to be more precise it can be a pain in the derrière. Well, this little brush is perfect for this purpose, it allows me to be as precise as I wish. It blends beautifully and it is probably my favorite of the bunch (although they are all my favorites, lol).

Here it is side by side to my Mac 217

I also would like to give Zoeva a great thumbs up for the packaging, because each brush came in its black zip lock plastic pouch and they come very handy if you're a bit OCD like me, I use them to organize all sorts of little things! 

I also got the trifold mirror (8,20€), it is very practical because it stands up on the table but I can also tuck it away when I don't need it.

Next on my wish list:

• 105 Luxe Highlight
• 106 Powder
• 142 Concealer Buffer
• 235 Contour Shader

Have you tried Zoeva brushes? Any recommendations?

That's it for now,  I hope you are all well and thriving! 

Beauty Blender! (No, it won't make you Guacamole...)

To me, application of liquid foundations is not a standard routine: sometimes I use my fingers, sometimes a brush, depending solely on what I feel like doing that day.

No matter how I choose to achieve the "perfect" base for the rest of my makeup, it has become a daily habit of mine to bounce a moist beauty blender on top as soon as I put on foundation and concealer.

The reason is that it manages to blend everything seamlessly and provides the perfect bare canvas for the rest.

I have also used it the conventional way, meaning that I applied dots of makeup all over and then used it to spread on my face but I don't actually like it this way for two reasons:

• I feel that make up just stays on top of my face
• A lot of product gets absorbed in the sponge which to me is not only wasteful but also makes cleaning it a bit difficult. 

For these reasons, I firstly work the foundation on my face with fingers or a brush and then bounce it on. It's an extra step but to me totally worth it.

I also use it on top of blush or bronzer when I feel that I applied a bit too much, the remainder of foudation on it tones down everything without messing everything up. 

In fact, a lot of times I overdo blush in purpose and I follow up with a few bounces because it takes away the powdery finish and I end up with dewy cheeks, naturally flushed (how cliché, lol!), perfectly diffused, with no visible blush "ends". If you're struggling with blending out blushes etc, this is the perfect tool. 

In conclusion, I don't think that it is a must have tool, especially if you're happy with the way you apply foundation. 

I do think it is a nice to have tool, because it definitely perfects makeup application and it is multitasking, because it can be used with all kinds of cream/liquid products (makeup, concealer, blush, bronzer, highlight etc). 

If you love "diffused" application this is definitely a must.

On the other hand, if you don't want to pay $20 for it, or if you haven't used a sponge like this before and you're not sure if you'll like it or not, I would propose trying out a more affordable alternative. 

The one I have been using before the Beauty Blender is a Hondos Center find by the brand Cosmopolitan. I had never heard of this brand before but I got it on a whim, it was on a stand by the cashiers so I grabbed it while waiting in line.

As you can see it is well loved and quite battered up, so when I was considering repurchasing it I decided to try the "real thing" instead. 

In comparison, I would say they do pretty much the same thing.  The difference is that this one is more dense and doesn't expand in size while the Beauty Blender is more fluffy, soft and tender to my face. 

One thing that is important is that either of these is supposed to be used damp, not wet. I always wet it and then put it on a tissue paper and squeeze it hard before every use.

No matter what you choose, I wouldn't end this post without some maintenance tips and in particular how to clean them because from what I gather it is what most of the users struggle with. 

First of all, it definitely should be washed after every application or after two applications at the most. It is high maintenance without a doubt, or else you end up with a bacteria farm on your hand that goes on your face and it defeats the purpose.  

It also depends on how you use it: if you put foundation on top of it and then on your face it gets more stained because it absorbs more product. If you apply foundation with your hands or a brush and then use it to blend everything together, it absorbs less so it doesn't get much stained. 

Lastly, the reason I chose the Beauty Blender in the Pure (white, or light beige to be accurate) version is that I wanted to be able to see at a glance where and how much dirty it is because it makes cleaning it easier.

Enough blabbing, here's how I clean my sponges:

I start off with a very dirty sponge, (lol) on purpose, and a bowl with lukewarm water and some kind of soap. I have used hand soap, dish soap and I just got an Apivita Propolis soap that I'm excited to try out!

And then I squeeze it in the water/soap mixture.  A lot. It's kind of an excersize.  I also change the water 2/3 times and continue to squeeze until it's clean. 

Most importantly, I don't rub it, only squeeze it. My pink Cosmopolitan is so scarred because I used to rub it up viciously (before I came up with the bowl method).

Here it is, as good as new! The whole process takes me about 2-3 minutes.

What are your thoughts on this kind of sponges? Do you recommend a specific one?

That's it for now, I hope you are all well and thriving! 

Da Glove (but not from Sigma!)

I 'm sure you 've all seen the Brush Cleaning Glove by Sigma. It is a little wonder, an innovation itself, in many eye catching colors, that makes brush washing a breeze.

I wanted it. Desperately. Passionately. I was set on buying it. I mean, I don't have as many brushes as a makeup artist (by any means) but, I 'm quite adamant about washing my brushes once a week and it is undeniably a chore. Depending on the brush, I may have to wash some of them repeatedly 3-4 times to remove all product (Sigmax I 'm looking at you!) and taking into consideration that I spot clean them every time I use them, it says a lot about how much gunk a brush can collect.

What the Sigma Brush Cleaning Glove is supposed to do (and I don't doubt a bit that it does deliver) is that it makes washing, rinsing and shaping your brushes a joy, something that sounds at first like a retro add where the happy and oh so pretty and polished housewife manages a whole household without loosing a curl from her hairdo (seriously???).

So, I watched a few videos and I saw that it actually does what it promises, with flying colors.

But there was a huge boulder between us...

The glove of gloves, the promised land of all dirty brushes waiting anxiously to be fresh and clean, costs $39!!! Plus twenty something bucks for shipping to Greece, we 're talking over $60 in total!!!

No, it doesn't make coffe as well. No it doesn't give you directions when you 're in the car, lost in another space and time dimension (like, next block from your house, lol!). No it doesn't wake you up in the morning. It just sits there, waiting for you to cover it in soap and water and clean your brushes on it.

But it has groves or should I say "variety of textures and surfaces" and did I mention it comes in all sorts of fun colors? Yeah.

Now, here's a hot topic: how much do your brushes cost? Depending on the total cost - money invested - on your brushes, maybe $40 + shipping isn't that absurd.

To me, it's not that I don't value my brushes but this price point seems completely exuberant, for something that costs 2-3 dollars to manufacture. It's plain (and ineffective) marketing tactic that says that consumers are sheep and will buy everything as long as it is in a pretty package. Well, sometimes at least we 're not sheep, surprise!

The results were that even famous beauty gurus, that got it for free, raved about how practical it is but also admitted that they probably would never buy it, because of the unreasonable price.

So, after deciding that I didn't want to throw $60+ on a rubber glove, I decided to improvise a bit and did an eBay research on rubber glove, rubber mitt, etc.

And guess what? I found a decent priced one, at $8 with free shipping.

Don't get me wrong, it 's not the same product but it does more or less the same thing.

Here it is!

Isn't it prettttyyyyyy? It even has little hearts, awwwwwww (no, I 'm not brain damaged....)

What I looked for was substantial groves, because most of them have really shallow ones. This was one of the cheapest that has some decent texture, so I decided to get it.

Bottom line: Is it effective?

Well, yes! I can't say how it works in comparison to the real thing but it does clean my brushes thoroughly at a fraction of the time I had to spend when I cleaned them by hand.

I 've used it in order to wash my Mac brushes, Real Techniques brushes, even the oh so hard to clean Sigma Sigmax brushes. Most of them need only one wash, whereas the Sigma ones need two washes.

So, all in all I'm very pleased with it because it's definitely effective and a great value for money, I do have a reservation though: I don' t know how (and if) it will affect the brushes in the long run, because my hand is obviously a softer surface than the glove. I try to be gentle and not rub them viciously on the glove, but, some times, when I 'm in a hurry, I do tend to be a little slack and rub them a little too vigorously.

I 'm not so concerned about the synthetic bristles because I do think they 're more durable but the "regular" brushes (made from animal hair) need extra care. So far though (I 've been using it for over a month now) I haven't notice any hair loss, so, maybe that 's a good sign!

Now, that 's a lot of ink over an oven glove but it does deserve it and I wanted to share with you an alternative to - the much debated of - Sigma glove. It 's not the same thing but it does the job, at a fraction of the price.

That 's it for now, I hope you 're all well and thriving!

Χρόνια Πολλά, εύχομαι να γυρίσετε ασφαλείς όλοι σπίτια σας με τις μπαταρίες γεμάτες!

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

First ever Nars haul!

I 've been drooling over Nars stuff for ages, but I was always skeptical mainly because:

• they 're quite expensive,
• narscosmetics.eu charge 24€ for delivery (Nars, really???)
• asos.com does not deliver Nars to Greece
• they 're not available elsewhere, apart from hqhair.com, at least to my knowledge.

So, being pricy and not readily available online were the two reasons that turned me off from buying any Nars product.

That changed when they launched the The Happening" LE palette. As soon as I saw it I wanted it. Desperately. LOL!

So, I checked on narscosmetics.eu but there was no way I was going to pay 24€ shipping fee.

Instead, I just gave my email address in order to be included in their mailing list and waited for a free shipping code or something similar.

And, lo and behold, a couple days later I received an email about free shipping if the order was 50€ or more!

Also, there was a code for a free mini Orgasm illuminator for the first purchase.

It goes without saying that I decided not to wait any longer and rushed to the site to make my order.

While browsing the rest of the stuff, I noticed that the American Dream palette was still available (you can see it in my fall 2012 whishlist, here), and (against any reasonable thinking) I decided to fulfill my Nars appetite with this palette too!

Oh well, it's not a big deal to survive the remaining of the month on pasta and ketchup!!!

My experience on buying from Nars: the only really negative is their shipping fee, so, if you 're interested, make sure to be in their mailing list, this way you 'll receive notifications of new products, free shipping, etc.

The shipping itself took 7 working days, mainly because there was a delay in Italy due to weather conditions.

They also provide full tracking, meaning that you can check the status and the whereabouts of your order.

Packaging: very slim and tight (no bulky boxes), very well padded, everything safe and sound!

Enough said, let's move on tho the haul!

Orgasm mini illuminator:

This is a mini, 8ml deluxe sample. It can be used on the cheekbones etc as a highlighter or mixed with the foundation for a little "afterglow" result (insert naughty laughter).

Being on the pale side I'm a little afraid to use it in the middle of winter, although I think it will be ok mixed with my foundation.

If you have it, please let me know how you use it!

American Dream palette:

For 49€ you get 9 grams of product in 6 eyeshadows, that means almost 8€ for 1,5 grams per eyeshadow. In Mac terms it would cost 90€. Even in pan form, they cost 10€ each (if I'm not mistaken), so the total cost would be 60€. My point is that they 're not that expensive (at least in comparison to Mac eyeshadows).

Isn't it prrrreeeeettttyyyyy?

I think that apart from the lovely colors, this is a well thought of palette because you get your highlights, midtones and dark colors, as well as a matte, perfect for the crease. So, with this little tool you can accomplish quite a few different looks.

I love them all with Galapagos (the dark brown on the low left corner) being the most favorite, because of the gold shimmer.

There 's actually nothing not to like about them as far as pigmentation, blendability and texture are concerned.

The only issue I have is with Silk Road (the pink on the top right corner) because it has a few chunky particles, but it is a gorgeous color nonetheless.

The swatches are on bare skin, no primer underneath them.

Bellissima, Alhambra, Silk Road

Galapagos, Bali, Tzarine

The Happening Eyes and Cheeks palette:

It includes two iconic Nars products (Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer) and for this reason alone I think this is not an item for the Nars loyal fans, but, on the other hand I think this is the ideal introduction to a Nars "virgin", like myself!

 

Orgasm blush is a pretty peach/coral shade with a gorgeous gold shimmer duo chrome, better suited for spring and summer.

 

Laguna is a lovely bronzer with fine shimmer, ideal for fair and light skin tones.

 

It also includes four eyeshadows: Night Star, Gstaad, Kuala Lumpur and Coconut Grove. I don't find them to be unique or outstanding in any way, but they do compliment beautifully the color scheme of the palette.

 

I think that it is the perfect travel companion because of its small size, it fits perfectly even into my purse.

Swatches on bare hand (with no primer underneath).

Orgasm in comparison to Benefit's Bella Bamba, Mac's Flower Fantasy and Mac's Legendary

Laguna in comparison to Nude on Board, Lush-Light Bronze, Equillibrium and Pressed Amber (all by Mac).

Here are some photos to give you an idea of the size.

In comparison to a Mac palette

In comparison to UD Naked 2 palette

In comparison to an Inglot palette

Have you tried a Nars product? Any recommendations?

 

That's it for now, I hope you 're all well and thriving!

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

Basic tools: Affordable and effective

In order to achieve the best looks, tools are mandatory. Fortunately there's an abundance of brushes out there, in various prices, so that everyone can buy the tools of choice at the desired price.

But do we need every brush that's available on the market? The answer in no, and I will explain why.

Buying a more affordable brush, does it mean that we have to compromise on quality and effectiveness? The answer is no again!

So, let's get started!

Face. We have foundation brushes, powder brushes, bronzer brushes, blush brushes, highlight brushes etc etc. I have in my collection such brushes because I thought they were indispensable. I don't say that I don't like each and everyone, just that if I knew more back then I would skip a few of them.

And to take it to extremes, if I had to choose one brush (shocking!) to do a whole face makeup (foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, highlight) it would be without a second thought the Elf Powder brush at 4,50€ !

The reason is that it's large enough, dense enough, soft enough, doesn't shed like crazy and it's multitasking.

As for application, the best way to achieve a flawless result without wasting excess product on the brush is to work the foundation on my skin with my fingers first and then use the brush to buff it in. Perfect!

Another result of this application is that the bristles stay relatively clean and product free, so it only takes a couple of swipes on a paper towel in order to proceed with powder, bronzer, blush. If you are concerned with product transfer between different type of products, a couple of swipes in between on a paper towel is all that is needed. As for highlight, I use the edge of the brush and it positions highlight just where I want it to.

After I 'm done with face makeup I'll always spot clean it on a paper towel. The brush cleanser that I find works best with this type of Elf bristles is absolute alcohol (70% or higher) and the bristles get clean very easily and quickly. This way, apart from the obvious hygienic results, the brush is in perfect condition for next time because a dirty brush is not only unsanitary but will compromise the result of makeup application.

A more pricy alternative than the Elf one but still quite affordable is the Sigma F80 at $16. I don't have this one but I do have the F82 and the F84 from the same line and they are my most favorite face brushes.

As for concealer, a fine pointed one is perfect for precise application on spots etc. Look no further than the Elf Angled Eyeliner brush at 4,50€. It doesn't have to be angled, it's just the one I have, any type of fine pointed brush will do.

For applying concealer under eyes, I pat in on the under eye area with my finger and then buff it in with the Mac 217 brush. Sigma also makes a similar one, the E25 Blending brush at $9.

Eyes. Here as well, the diversity of the available brushes is insane, but you definitely don't need many of them in order to achieve the desired eye look.

I 've come to the conclusion that the best way to choose a brush is the size of the area above the eyes (small or big) and the preferred way of eyeshadow application (packed or diffused).

• For small eyelids I would suggest the Sigma E45 Small Tapered brush at $9. I have a similar one from Mac, the 226 and can be used:
• sideways to pack color on the lid,
• just the tip to do a smokey outer v or apply eyeshadow on the lash line and
• it is also perfect for the crease and
• applying highlight on the inner corner

• For more eyelid space I think the Sigma E25 is a good option.

For eyeliner, if you use gel eyeliners you can use the Elf Angled Eyeliner brush I mentioned above (yes, it can work for spot concealing and eyeliner at the same time as long as you thoroughly spot clean between different products).

Another option is the Sigma E75 Angled Brow at $11, it's thin enough to be used as an eyeliner brush although the line will not be as fine as with a designated eyeliner brush. Of course it can also be used for eyebrows.

Mac 208 which is a similar brush is my favorite not only for eyebrows but for eyeliner as well because it offers more control than an eyeliner brush with a fine tip.

 

So, the most affordable and efficient way I've found in order to do a whole face makeup is with these brushes:

• Elf Powder brush for foundation/powder/bronzer/blush/highlight
• Elf Angled Eyeliner brush for spot concealing
  
• Sigma E25 Blending brush for under eye concealer

And for the eyes:

• Sigma E25 Blending brush or Sigma E45 Small Tapered brush for smaller eyelids
  
• Sigma E75 Angled Brow brush for eyeliner and eyebrows

Here's my interpretation of the above list, obviously I have included the Mac ones I own instead of the alternatives I've suggested. If I knew then what I know now my wallet would be fuller, lol!

Extras!

If you have very pigmented blushes/bronzers and you have difficulty in using them, a duo fibre brush will help a lot because with it you can achieve a lightweight application. You can also use it with foundation when you're going for a more lightweight and transparent result.

I have the Mac 187 but also Sigma makes one, the F50 Duo Fibre at $18

Elf makes one as well, the Stipple brush at 4,50€.

If you want to do a detailed eyeshadow work, a pencil brush will be very handy, like the Sigma E30 Pencil brush at $9. Elf has also a couple of small brushes, like the Small Precision brush or the Small Smudge brush.

 

If you prefer to apply eyeshadow in a wash of color instead of packing it on, a large fluffy brush is ideal and it can also be used for blending. Sigma makes the E40 Tapered Blending brush at $11 and the one I use is the Inglot 6SS.

 

Finally, an extra that to me is a staple tool is a lash curler. I had the Elf one but it pinched my eyelids and the most affordable and effective that I've found and use for a few months now is the Mister Mascara lash curler from beautybay.com

 

What's your most effective and affordable makeup tool?

 

I'm not affiliated or sponsored by any of the mentioned brands, I just added the links so that it would be easier for you to see the brushes!

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

July favorites!

Most of my favorites for July can be seen in the June favorites post, but here are a few more things that I really enjoyed using this month!

Garnier new BB cream: I was contemplating whether I should buy a darker foundation, being a little tanned and all, but i couldn't justify the expense for a product I will use for a month or so. Meanwhile, I had seen online swatches of the Garnier BB cream and I thought it had a decent opacity, so when I saw it at the supermarket, with a price tag of €7, I decided to buy this instead of a foundation.

At first try I got scared because of the slight orange tint and I also did't like the fact that it oxidized on me. So I buried it in a drawer but after a few days I thought to mix it with my Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. I'm happy to say that the combination is perfect colorwise and it lasts a long time without oxidizing.

Inglot 4SS brush: some time ago I purchased its little sister, the 6SS and it has become my favorite brush for applying highlights and sheer wash of color on my lids. So, I thought to get the bigger one solely for applying highlight on the cheekbones etc and it works like a dream.

Inglot blotting paper: I had never tried blotting papers before because my skin is not oily but in the summer I sweat on the face, so I though that blotting paper would be the answer and it is because it does the job without affecting my makeup. Now I never leave the house without this little packet in my purse!

Clarins Instant Light blush in Coral Tonic: love it. It spent all month in my purse for touch ups on the go because it doesn't require a brush, just my fingertips!

Mac blush in Flower Fantasy: I used quite a bit this one not only because of the lovely color but also because it has a coordinating highlight in the pan. The only downside, as with a few other Mac powders, is that it is so fine that it can acquire a film on top that makes the product useless. I tried sweeping it with a paper towel and I even scraped the surface a bit but nothing worked out until one day that I thought to use a Korres face brush that is a little coarse and it worked!

Mac blush in Sunbasque: this blush scream summer to me! I had neglected it for a while but it was well loved all month.

Clarins Coral Tonic, Mac Flower Fantasy, Mac Sunbasque

Maybelline Color Tatoo in On and On Bronze: a swipe on each eyelid, blending out the edges, ready and bronze-y in a minute!

Wet 'n Wild Shadow Pencil in Pixie: lovely color with poor durability but it's a perfect shimmering and brightening base for the lids, under powder eyeshadow.

Mac Prunella eye kohl: I used this one a lot on my tightline because it's not harsh like black but it's a bit more intense than brown.

Inglot brow pencil: again in the hunt for the perfect brow product, I decided to try this one by Inglot. I've used it all month and I really like it because the color is light so the result is natural and it also comes with a handy little brush.

On and On Bronze, Pixie, Prunella, Inglot brow pencil

Inglot #181 nail polish: I hadn't worn metallics in a long while and I really enjoyed this coppery-pink, bronze shade by Inglot.

Orly Rage: love it! It's pink and cool golden and a little beige, precious in a word!

L'Oreal #208 So Chic Pink: it's a bold and beautiful, vibrant coral red. It lived on my toes almost all month!

These are my favorites but there are a couple of things that disappointed me.

Bourjois 2step Volumizer mascara: so far I don't remember having a mascara that flacked, but this one is like I've worked in a coal mine! At midday, my under eye area and the tops of my cheeks become "adorned" with itsy tiny little bits of mascara. I really like the color though...

While preparing the shoot I discovered that the bigger wand broke and got stuck inside the tube, that's a first too...lol!

Givenchy Phenomen' Eyes in #5, Vintage Bronze: this one was another experiment in the quest for the perfect brown mascara. I saw it in a local outlet, I had read all the raves about the brush and the name of the shade "Vintage Bronze" was very alluring. Now, the wand is not bad at all, it's just that it takes a looot of time to coat my lashes because it's small, think of an eternity and a day, lol!

The main problem is that the color is not bronze, at all. In fact it is a charcoal grey/black. Well, as a color description maybe it doesn't sound that bad but on the eyes, it's like I've applied a grey eyeshadow while the mascara is still wet and it catches the fallout on the lashes. It 's so weird that I'm really considering to toss it in the garbage.

So, these are my July favorites spiced up with a couple of misses.

I hope you're all well and thriving!

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

My first Inglot haul!

Last Monday an Inglot store opened in the Athens Metro Mall!

On Tuesday, I had my little list ready and I entered the store pretty confident that I wouldn't get lost between the various colors, finishes etc. Well, it didn't go quite as planned, mainly because I misplaced my list and couldn't find it (...) as well as due to fatigue I was a bit spaced out.

So, instead of buying stuff in random, I decided to keep it sweet and short and with no further ado, here it is!

First thing I wanted to try was a brush and since I lacked of a large fluffy eyeshadow brush, I decided to get the 6SS, the hair is squirrel substitute. It's very soft and fluffy and so far I really like it.

Here you can see it in comparison to a Mac 226 (on the left) and a Mac 217 (on the right).

My main reason for visiting Inglot was the eyeshadows and I knew I wanted a Freedom System palette, so no guessing here.

When I started swatching the eyeshadows though, well, it was kind of overwhelming. I tried to remember if I had anything similar in my stash, how I would combine it, I tried to find shades that looked "unique" blah blah blah. It was not working.

So, I decided to get the three shades that at the moment stood out to me and that next time I entered Inglot I had better have the list with me ( lol!)

Pearl 399 on top left, Pearl 420 on top right, AMC Shine 17 on bottom left

Here I added the Mac Swimming eyeshadow on the far right, for comparison.

Here's the back of the palette, I adhered the labels from the boxes for future reference.

The bottom line: does it worth it?

Well, the answer is probably yes and I'll tell you why (surprise!):

• Price: €6 per eyeshadow and €9 for the palette. I think it's certainly a winning point but not by itself
• Ease of use: once you put them in the palette, there's nooo way back! Unless you find a heavy duty magnet, you can't reposition them in the palette. I asked the MUA if they provided one, no they didn't. Bummer..Should I try "Εγέρθητω!" ? (Current greek joke)
• Color selection (in store): large but not vast, I think Mac has a wider range
• Longevity: I didn't test them to extremes (lol!) but I got a decent work day, they'll certainly last longer over a primer
• Pigmentation: oh baby, you're sooo good
• Application: like a dream, just don't overblend, you'll have to reapply
• Consistency: butterrrr, for your lids, not your breakfast (jeezzzz, I'm sooo funny!)
• Finishes: Pearl ( <3 For Ever). There are a few more, and I hear that the mattes are very good too
• Will I purchase more? Rhetorical question

The fun part is that when I got home and found the list I discovered that two of the three eyeshadows I actually purchased were included in my list!

So that's my first visit to an Inglot store (thank god I didn't start browsing lip products, nail polishes etc or I would still be there!)