Dark Matter De-potting

I've tried some of Dark Matter's shadows, and picked up the second to newest release: The women of science! Dom has been releasing a set (what feels like) every month this year. I'm wanting to slow down and really start to play with her formulas.

I transferred my sample centrifuge tubes and my full tubes into jars I found on Etsy. Turns out I have a perfect number, 25. I honestly thought I only had 12 ... or so.. I guess I never counted the "...or so".

Here they are! All lined up in a row. Big ones, small ones.

I have a close up of how pretty they are as the filled. Let me know if I should post. I was too tired to remember tonight.

All my shades. Photo taken for my bad memory in case I go to order and I'm no where close to pick up the jar and read. 

The ol' centrifuge tubes. I didn't actually mind using these. I think the jars will be easier. Mostly I transferred to get the nagging " you should be at work" "You use these every day at work" "work" "work" "work" monkey off my back and enjoy the last month or two of my Maternity leave. No work! Just pretty pigment play. 

How do you use your Dark Matter shadows? Which are your favorites? 

Dark Matter Anti-Gravity Sticky Primer and what was I sent?

As mentioned, I tried out some samples from Dark Matter (find them on Etsy) and I liked a few of the shades on my first try to order some full sizes. 

But... what do I see? I didn't order Ursa Major, I ordered Cassiopeia. 

Time for science! I have the samples, let us compare and see which one it is!

Swatched left to right: Cassiopeia, mystery full size, Ursa Major, Space Cowboy, PI.E, and Libra because I had "room" and I wanted to see it again. Top to bottom is: Bare skin, Dark Matter's Anti-Gravity (awesome name!), Primer (I believe it was my first time using Urban Decay Primer Potion!) and Darling Girl Glitter Glue over primer.

I used a shadow brush and did a fairly heavy swatch.

With flash and bright lights as pictures couldn't be taken until the kidlets were asleep.  Left to right: Cassiopeia, mystery full size, Ursa Major, Space Cowboy, PI.E, and Libra. Top to bottom is: Bare skin, Dark Matter's Anti-Gravity, Primer (UDPP) and Darling Girl Glitter Glue over primer.

Cassiopeia is just lovely!* *over a sticky primer. The other shades are lovely as well. I really need to remember to always use primers and for these shadows it appears a sticky base is key.

Top to bottom: PI.E, Space Cowboy, and Ursa Major.

Top to bottom: Libra (notice the shift is trying to appear),  PI.E, and Space Cowboy. Sparkle sparkle.

Here we have the arm a couple hours later (because I could just leave it). Darling Girl glitter glue has held up better (especially with PI.E, Space Cowboy and Libra), but Gravity isn't too far behind. Dark Matter's Ursa Major is looking more beautiful as I review these swatches, clearly is the shade that has the most staying power. I suspect this might stain, but it works well with primer only.

I have been impressed with Dark Matter and I suspect they are quite clean with how they handle their cosmetics. I'll be posting more on Gravity as my shopping ban resumes ;)

Oh, and clearly my mislabeled tube was what I ordered, Cassiopeia. I've contacted Dark Matter and I should have a new label sent to me. The nerd that needs labels to be correct and look pretty is delighted. The same nerd that was excited to test these out tonight. :)

EOTD - fairy blues

I asked my kidlet to pick a shade, and she chose Never be Royals - one of the hardest for me to work with. It's a matte blue with an apparent orange douchrome I've never been able to clearly draw out. 

I used a base of Gravity, padded Never be Royals. In the outer corner I used Cotton Candy. I then added some glitter fix on the center of lid and the inner corner placing Never be Royals and the Invisible Girl respectively. I finished the look with a bit of liquid liner and Cotton Candy over glitter fix under the bottom lashes.

I think it came out really pretty. I love the change of Cotton Candy on the lid over primer to the underlining using glitter fix. 

Dark Matter samples - a quick review

I can't remember where I first heard of Dark Matter, but I am (fairly) sure they are new. I think I actually meant to order from Life's Entropy but user error combined with store closures led to me thinking Life's Entropy moved to Esty, hence explaining the total layout change and why I couldn't find the products I was looking for. Whoops. Life's Entropy will be back up at the end of the month, meanwhile Dark Matter has just released another wave of eyeshadows (the women of science) and a new white based sticky primer.

Here is my sample order from Dark Matter. Samples are about $2.00 Canadian, shipping was reasonable, and communication with the store owner was excellent. She even contacted me to say she wouldn't be able to get the order in the mail until the next day, as she was ill. I ordered on a Sunday (or even Saturday night). Totally above and beyond any expectations! 

Oh, she also sent some Candy! :D

So cute!

I picked out 12 sample sizes which came in conical tubes. I'm sure at some point during my undergrad my friends and I had the same idea. For getting shadow out, I did find (and you'll see in my swatches) it's a bit easier to flip the tube before opening and nabbing the remainder left at the top. I'm a bit... picky with my labeling so the way the tags just stick out on these irks me. ;)

Yey! Candy, personalized note, and sample! Some nice looking business cards, Dom!

Clearly, my first attempt was too much and then I just starting playing around. Left to right: Pavous, Proxima, Ursa Major, Acrux, Cassiopeia, Triton, Cor serpentis, Libra, Scorpio.

In the sun: Left to right: Pavous, Proxima, Ursa Major, Acrux, Cassiopeia, Triton, Cor serpentis, Libra, Scorpio.

Out of focus in the sun: Left to right: Pavous, Proxima, Ursa Major, Acrux, Cassiopeia, Triton, Cor serpentis, Libra, Scorpio.

Wow! Holy transfer of pigment, Batman! FWIW, I didn't use a primer for these "opening the package of pretties!" swatches. 

The last four: Galileo, Ariel, Cancer and Ellen (from the women of science).

Out of focus to show sparkle.

I'd really like to try these with the Gravity sticky base, and I will be trying them this week using Glitter Glue so see how they stay. Some of these shades are so pigmented, they might stain so I'll be looking to see if a primer helps prevent that. Before I actually got these, I ordered a couple full-size (about $10 Canadian) in Scorpio and Cassiopeia. The latter was a win! I think I might also like a full size of Libra. And maybe the COTM, PI.E.

That's my brief introduction Dark Matter and Dom. Let me know if you've tried them. I've also read the conical tubes bothered some people, were you one? I thought they were cute, and actually not impractical to use for a shadow sample. I'll when I have time to repeat these using primer/glitter glue.