All posts for the month October, 2017

Books: The Writer’s Retreat by Indu Balachandran

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! Time for another book review!

Title: The Writer’s Retreat
Author: Indu Balachandran

Disclaimer: This review is based on thoughts and opinions of the lead writer! Please respect her thoughts and feelings on this work. There might be spoilers!

Synopsis: Amby Baylan is tired of the corporate life as a worker at a bank and quits to become a Tweet writer for Krish Kumaar, the heartthrob actor. Despite the chances to ogle over her boss and have a glamorous life of traveling, Amby still wants to fulfill her life to become a writer and finds an ad online that gives her the opportunity of the lifetime and that is a Writer’s workshop on the island of Crete, Grece. Once she jet sets for the island, she meets two other women who were going through the same thing as she did and having her fun and learn new writing techniques. Besides her writing, her love life seems to spark when she gets not only a visit from the superstar but the man she was arranged to marry. Will this tale of writing spin into a story of romance?

Thoughts: This was the cutest, romantic comedy I have ever read next to Mimi Jean Pamfiloff’s books! This gave a new spin on the different romantic comedy tropes and movie references that I knew that Amby would go through what you would see on the movie screen. As in, girl meets guy and he is famous, goes through the troubles of his stardom as in meeting other girls and try to drive them away with a playful gay lover, and not only that follow her dreams by leaving him behind and her arranged lover on top of it. I do love Amby, Mini, and Bobbi and how they were able to interact with each other since they were like sisters and destined to meet especially with their lives. Mini wanted to get away from writing children’s stories on the retreat and Bobbi wanted to get away from the boring advertising writing life she is known for to be a travel writer but the one I feel more linked to is Amby because well I feel like I can relate to her the most.

How so you may ask? Well, I know how it feels to be the one who thinks life is boring and need a new career and that is how I feel right now and I am going through that Gap idea she brings up in the book because of my goal of being an Assistive Technology Specialist and trying to get my butt back to school for it and trying to find my first job but it is not going so well. I do still write since I am working on my third book and have this blog and its channel to work on in between. Also, volunteering at a local school too to help me gain my confidence. So, yeah I know what it’s like to have it.

Besides relating to Amby, I did like the style the book was written in and that is in first person but in the way of telling it like a movie, as in giving the main characters, where they were coming from, and not only that saying, “We will get back to this later! Let’s go to this right now.” Which usually works in film better but Balachandran did do this well in her book and I did crack up time to time due to the scenes having a lot of funny moments. I would love to see this played out on the big screen and may drag Gondras in since one thing about being engaged there are times when I want to see a chick flick.

Rating: 5 Star Pawprints Out of 5! This book was a very fun read! You have the romantic comedy story weaving in and out and of course the scene changes played out very well. I do love the characters and even see myself as Amby since I am going through my own “The Gap” in my life. I hope this does become a movie because it does give a new spin on storytelling and who wouldn’t want to laugh at the awkwardness between Amby and K. K. throughout the film. I did do the “Awww!” at the end like most romantic comedies when I watched them when I was younger. Yes, I admit I was a chick flick lover myself when I couldn’t get the guy back then. At least I am getting married to now 11 years-of-being-together fiancé. I highly recommend this book!

That is it for this review! What is next for this blog? Not entirely sure but I will come up with something! Until next time!

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by moonleopard85 on October 31, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Reviews

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 31, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/31/books-the-writers-retreat-by-indu-balachandran/

Books: Pawn n-Mr. Rook’s Island Book 2 by. Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! It is time for a new book review!

Title: Pawn-Dr. Rook’s Island Book 2
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Disclaimer: This book is based on thoughts and opinions of the lead writer! Please respect her thoughts and feelings on the book. Spoilers might happen.

Synopsis: This book continues the Mr. Rook’s Island series where Stephanie starts her new life on the island of fantasies as Mr. Rook’s new assistant. She is still determined to find out what happened to her sister while she works for Rook and find any new evidence linked to the death. As she snoops around, she finds out more about Mr. Rook and his history with the island and not only that she also has Warner Price breathing down her back waiting for anything she may have on Mr. Rook. Will she get home to give out the island or will her love for the mysterious Rook take over?

Thoughts: This book was a very good read! I felt the continuation was pretty good and did start from where it left off as in hurricane comes through and Stephanie stays on the island, etc. I did enjoy the comedic parts and how awkward Stephanie had felt since she is dealing with a crew that brings anyone’s fantasies come true and after reading from the last book where she stumbled on the herum in a tent, it does show what else the island is capable of such as pirates, a Scottish castle and more. I do like how the mystery solving was blended in this time with how Stephanie was looking through everything. Not only that, Pamfiloff also shown the sleep walking thing a bit better as in the body sleeps while Stephanie’s inner self goes out to find clues. I think I have seen this somewhere in some other books, especially one called the Goblin Wars Trilogy where the main character did the same thing in the end of the second book and most of the third one where her inner self walks while her body sleeps.

In case if you were wondering, yes there was romance in this book and this time Stephanie was being tested in order to earn Rook. I did like that in the beginning of the book since she did have to room with Lucas the yacht driver from the first book where Rook and her did scuba dive together. I did see at first how they would get together but then as the book goes on it did reveal she still preferred Rook and I was kind of hoping that she would forget Rook after how she was treated and knew Lucas would be the better one but of course this is Pamfiloff’s story so main character gets the love interest that she wants. It did get pretty touching in the story with how Rook and her got together even after giving up his vows as a monk, since the actual story of the island dealt with monks owning it and why he kept it a secret, which I won’t go into too much detail. Besides their love, there are more secrets to come even with the last book which I can’t wait to see where the story starts when Pawn had ended. Heck, this book even gives you a mini story like the first one that dealt with one of the women who were on the islad that were a part of the VIP club.

Rating: 5 Out of 5 Star Pawprints! This story did give a great continuation and how Stephanie was solving the mystery behind her sister’s death. Not only we get the clues behind Rook but even more about the island’s history. I can’t wait how the next book, which is the last, will wrap this story up even with what took place in the mini story at the end. If you want to check this book out and the first, I would suggest it since it does unfold pretty good stuff and the romance was a bit more touching in this one than the first.

That is about it! I am trying to finish reading another book at the moment so stay tuned for that review! Until next time!

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by moonleopard85 on October 30, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Reviews

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 30, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/30/books-pawn-n-mr-rooks-island-book-2-by-mimi-jean-pamfiloff/

Favorites: September and October 2017!

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! It is time for favorites for September and October! I will also be including my fave top 5 songs!

Empties Finished: First, let’s start with a Project Pan Update! Urban Decay Naked Basics 2: First, I finally finished my Urban Decay Naked Basics 2! I was giving this one so much love when I first got it even with my neutral looks for anything interview related and Pre-Employment Program stuff and man it took forever. I decided to toss it finally noticing that it is hard to get the eye shadow with my brush and knew that I had to let it go. I do have a back up of this pallet and it is out of its box!

Revlon Primer + Shadow in Bohemian and Metropolitan: Next I finally finished two of my Revlon pallets from that Primer and Shadow line which it was an okay thing and not very pigmented for most people. I only had three of them and finished two of them which happened to be Bohemian and the other Metropolitan. I don’t know what is up with some Revlon items but the nail polishes, the So Lengthy Mascara, and the lip items are the best from them while the eye shadows are meh in my book. I had these for a long time and glad to finish two out of the three, I will get to Advant Gard and I know it.

Burberry Brit: I finished a perfume and that is Burberry Brit from Burberry. I had this bottle for a long time and it was time for me to finish it! It was also a fave scent for anyone who noticed it at the Blind Rehab Center I stayed at in Daytona.

Painterly and Kaaahhhnnn by MAC: Time to start a new with Back to MAC and that is with Painterly from their Paint Pots and Kaaaahhhhnnn! From their Star Trek collection! I loved these two a lot. I am thinking of going for Soft Ocre next time if I am looking for a primer again while Kahhhnnn, it was just limited edition and this was the only other Star Trek themed lip glass I had. The thing is that the lip glasses tend to go thick and you finish them a bit too quickly. Glad to start a new collection to take back.

I think that is it for this Project Pan update!

Faves:

New Collection: Ulta Be Gorgeous Set: First is the newest Ulta gift set and that is the Be Gorgeous set that they released for holiday this year! When the new holiday stuff comes out you know I am getting some of it early to try out! This one especially when the email was in my inbox and it was $19 along with the Be Charming set. Even though these sets are the same price, the Be Gorgeous was way worth more than the other because I feel like I can create more looks with the shadows than the other. I did do two looks with it and managed to do a video of one of them but the other my Android camera kept on going out. I hope to get my next video up. I do admit I only didn’t like one item and that is the eye primer they put in this set. They did it as a cream in the plastic mold but wishing they did it as a tube of it instead because it is hard to put on the eye that way. I had to go into Painterly for my primer but I do love how it did get me into color correcting!

Color Corrector: NYX Concealer in Green: Next is a concealer and you would not expect to see it being a green one from NYX. I had some issues with dry patches and redness on my face and needed some help and when I saw the Be Gorgeous set had concealers, I decided to do some digging. I got the NYX Green Concealer at the NYX store in twon since a website highly recommend it and this concealer is amazing! It does go on thick but it does blend very easily and for $5 it is not that bad for a concealer. I am going to try out the light shade for the under eye because sometimes the Cover Girl one I use runs out a little too easily.

Eyeliner Pencil: Penny by Ulta: Next is an eyeliner fave and it might be cheating since I got it last month during the 21 Days of Beauty but it is the Ulta Gel Liner Pencil in Penny. These pencils are AMAZING! Yes, I know you have to sharpen them but I prefer to sharpen over automatic because they don’t break as easily. These go on smooth and they do pack on a lot of color. Plus, they do stay put in the water and lower lash lines! Where was this pencil when I first did Link but I would just get the black one for the wing. Still, it is a good pencil!

Lip Product: E. L. F. Lip Primer and Plumper: I mentioned this in my “Best Liquid Lipsticks for Conventions” because it does help and that is the E. L. F. Primer and Plumper! I heard about this all thanks to Andrea Matalano because she was have the same problems like I had with the Color Pop Matte Liquid Lipsticks where they ran all over the place! I looked like what if Harley Quin kissed the Joker way too much with Ribbon from the Hello Kitty collection. I was so happy to find out that I was not the only one and when she mentioned this product I knew I had to find it and Ulta had it on their website and it was amazing! Yes the plumper does sting a little but that goes for all lip plumping products but it doesn’t swell like crazy when I used a NYX plumping gloss a long time ago. You essentially put the primer down first and then put the plumper on top or put the plumper on top of the liquid lipstick after putting that down. This makes any liquid lipstick stay in place. I used it on my Kat Von D’s, my Ofra ones, even my Rimmel Apocalips or Show Off Lip Laquers and they stay put! Where were these? I did get two more by the way!

T. V. Show: Stranger Things: It took me a year but glad I did see it in time for Season 2 to come out and that is Stranger Things! This show was interesting and yet weird but I loved it! It tells about a boy gone missing in a small town around the 1980s, is it around that time? Anyways, He goes missing after a night of Dungeons & Dragons with his friends and then the next day a mysterious girl shows up and more people do go missing as the story goes and the girl, 11 or El for short is linked to the strange happenings that lead to a world that is different from ours. This show was great and I loved it! Yes, the first season was slightly short but it is NetFlix after all. I can’t wait what comes next since Nerdy Shirts and his brother were the ones who got me more curious about the first season after watching their reaction video to the second season trailer, I had to see it for myself. If you are into strange worlds beyond and having nerds be the hero, this show is for you!

Cartoon: Voltron The Legendary Defender: I had to mention this since it is a part of my Rookie Days of Anime and that is Voltron Legendary Defender! I haven’t mentioned it on a faves because I didn’t see season 1 and it got spoiled for me while I was in Daytona but I did catch up very well with Season 2 and now that Seasons 3 & 4, or shall I say Season 3.1 and 3.2 came out this year, I loved it! All I have to say is that the characters they did for this series is better than the classic, sorry that’s my opinion, because you have Elura be more useful and not always in distress, Lance as more like Saka from Avatar and a lady’s man, Pidge with HER character seems more like the one in the original but looking for her brother and dad who got taken, Hunk being more handy in the kitchen and science, and Keith being emo, and Shiro being the leader! Lotor, which I did like more, had a better character build up especially towards the end of 3.2 which I won’t give which you must see yourself. All I have to say is that this was a really good come back for the series and told a better story, even it gave an origin story for Voltron and filled in the blanks. I can’t wait what the next season will bring because it did end on an amazing note.

Book: Shattered Heir by N. M. Howell: I know I gave this book a bit of a detailed review but this was a great book and I want to apologize to Ms. Howell because I feel like I won’t get any newsletters from her again but I was pretty honest. There are times when you can’t always please everyone and someone at a job search seminar I went to recently said know your target audience and you will retain more as much as you repel. I didn’t think the story need any changes because the story was well-written and enjoyed it very much. I hope I get to read the sequel because I want to know what happens next to Reina and her guardians and how she will get her kingdom back in order.

Songs: Now onto my top 5 fave songs because it is hard to pick ten and these songs have been stuck in my head for the longest time!

1. “Victorious” by Panic! At the Disco: This one is a very catchy song with a very catchy beat!
2. “Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy: This always pops up on any radio I tend to listen to on I Heart Radio! I really want to try out CK Eternity since Calvin Klein is a fave clothing brand of mine and perfume brand too!
3. “Bulls&*^!” by Rise Against: Next is Rise Against with a song that does tell all! It does get into my head time to time and don’t always sing along.
4. “A Favor House Atlantic” by Coheed & Cambria: I started listening to these guys again and I still remember an old classmate loving them. I also have an easier time singing along with this song too!
5. “Strike Back” English Cover by Jonathan Young: I found this cover on YouTube by this guy since I love the song by Back On and did finally get my paws on Part 18 of Fairy Tail. The lyrics do fit me the most since I did get put down recently for my career goal by someone but not letting it be put down anymore. Heck, I would get the chorus tattooed with my Fairy TailxKingdom Hearts tattoo design. Plus, the song was well translated too!
Well, that is my faves of September and October! Let’s see what November and December brings when of course we have Thanksgiving and Christmas and Holiday Matsuri rolled into one!

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by moonleopard85 on October 28, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in beauty, Books, Cartoons, Favorites, Music

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 28, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/28/favorites-september-and-october-2017/

Beauty: Best Liquid Lipsticks for Conventions!

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! Since Holiday Matsuri is coming up in less than two months, I feel like doing an awesome beauty post!

Best Liquid Lipsticks for Conventions!

As makeup wearers in the convention community, there are times where we have a hard time finding that moment to re-apply our lipstick even with panels where can’t get that time to re-apply if we are hosting or late to show up after sleeping in from a long night of partying and panels! So, with MegaCon, I noticed that wearing a liquid lipstick is a lot better because they stay on for a very long time and a lot of cpmpanies in both high end and drugstore have been getting on the liquid lipstick train both in matte and mettllics, especially in time for the holidays! Since I wore a liquid ipstick, why not do a post of the best brands for anyone who needs an awesome lip and being comfortable too!

First, a Lip Primer Recommendation: I know a lot of people do have the problems of their liquid lipstick running all over their lips like I had with the Colour Pop ones and all thanks to Andrea Matalano, she says that the E. L. F. Lip Primer and Plumper is the way to go! I never heard about a lip primer until she mentioned it in her video and I do have the E. L. F. one and waiting for two more to appear on my doorstep with other items from Ulta, but other brands do have their own lip primers which NYX makes one too if you don’t want to get the E. L. F. one. People did complain about the E. L. F. one that the plumping side does sting which I did cecounter that before which my lips did get used to it. You essentially put on the primer side first and then the plumper side which you can smell very easily or you can put the plumper on top of the lipstick for added plumping. Does it work? Yes it does! It kept on all of my liquid lipsticks on and they stay pretty well too. I suggest getting a lip primer because it will save the bleeding and it is easy to carry as well.

Now for the lipsticks:

Disclaimer: These products are based on the love from the lead writer so please respect her choices!

1. Ofra Liquid Lipsticks: First off is the Ofra Liquid Lipsticks! I love these especially with the smell. They glide on very smoothly and when dried down they stay put! I only re-apply one or two times because of how well they stay and even with the lip primer they do stay on a lot better. These retail for $17.50 each and you have a wide range of colors from nude to bolds and even metallics. You can get Ofra through Ulta on their website and I would say it is a good thing since you can get points from buying these!
2. Colour Pop Matte Lipsticks: Before the lip primer, I hated how these ran all over my lips but with a lip primer these do stay put! These are very affordable and you can get a lot of colors as well. They around the $6 range and they do take a week to come in. Good news that select colors will be carried at Sephora which would be in time for December.
3. Black Moon Cosmetics: I tried this out all thanks to Vivi getting me an early birthday gift, a very early one, and that is a liquid lipstick from Black Moon Cosmetics in Eternal. I wore this during MegaCon, well two days out of the four, and it did not budge at all, even when I asked people questions! I did have to put on once after eating my pb&j sandwich. Still, that thing stays very well even on top of lip primer. This company does a wide range of colors from matte to metallic and even bold if you want to do a goth cosplay. These are around $18 each!
4. Kt Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks: Next is up Kat Von D’s liquid lipstick range! I thank Vivi getting into this line too and I only have two in Echo, which is a navy blue, and Wolf, which is ddeep gunmetal. Even though these do stay put but they are pretty drying which I suggest using not only the lip primer but also a lip balm before the primer. I always use lip balms, especially my all time Holy Grail one and that is LipSmackers, and then do the primer afterwards and then the lipstick. A head’s up, for the color Witches from what I hear, best to use a black lip liner or eye liner to line the lips to make it more oopaque. Reason why I mention these besides the downside of the dryness and needing a liner for Witches is because there is a wide range of shades to choose from! Heck, one shade is a best seller that sells out and that is Lolita and Lolita 2! (there is even a blush…) You can either go nude or natural and classic red or even bold for certain cosplays. And again they do stay on even while eating. These are $21 from what I remembered buying Echo and Wolf and you can get these from Sephora and the Kat Von D Cosmetics website! If you need a gift suggestion, there is a set for holiday for friends!
5. Rimmel Provacalips: These liquid lipsticks are amazing! I tend to wear one with my cosplay and that is a very, vampy purple color. It is the RImmel Provacalips collection! It is a two in one where you have the lip color on one side and then the top coat to seal it in for the day. This does stay put all day and it doesn’t budge. If you saw my interview videos as my ice Trainer Cosplay my lip color was there every video! These around $6 or $7 depending where you go! I may have to try the only one I have which is a berry one on top of my primer because I had these before the primer came out.
6. NYX Lip Lingerie: This list wouldn’t exist without at least one NYX product and that is their Lip Lingerie liquid lipstick line! I have the colors in Corsette and Embellishment which are nude colors among them and they feel great! Yes, they might be drying but I do use my lip primer underneath and they aren’t as bad. They do stay pretty well on top of the primer too which I highly suggest to do that before using these. They are in the $7 range depending on where you are whether it is Target or Ulta or even if you have in town and that is a NYX store! We have one in Orlando at the Milennia mMall and the nice thing is if you guys have the NYX app or shop at the store and sign up for their MakeUp Crew membership you can get points. Goes the same with the NYX website. Giving you guys that tidbit in case if you didn’t know.
7. L’Oreal Infolluble Liquid Lipsticks: Now another drugstore choice and that is from L’Oreal! I heard about these all thanks to Casey Holmes and you know me and my kitty curiosity I had to try! I decided to get some on Ulta and got them in the colors Kitten Paw and Petal Potion and these are amazing! They are lightweight and they don’t budge! They do transfer before drying down matte but just stay on for 18 hours which it claims. I think I rarely had to re-apply and I think these would be perfect for a convention because of how comfortable they are and do dry into place. I can see why people bought out one color when I was buying two of them. These are $7 and change at WalMart and Target and $9.99 at Ulta.
8. Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipstick: Another liquid lipstick from Rimmel and that is their Stay Matte Liquid Lipstick formula which I just tried! I remembered seeing was it Vii Dreamcatcher reviewing these on her channel and at first she said they were patchy which made me a bit skeptical but all thanks to Shop Kick having it as a Kick Bait item I decided why not give it a try. There are times where makeup works for some people and other products don’t and these worked out a lot especially with the primer. I do have to double dip, as in put one coat then put another on both top and bottom lips and then do the tissue and it stays! IT STAYS! I only had to re-apply once and that is it! Great thing is that you not only get your usual pinks and nudes but you do get a vampy purple, a blue, a black, and if I remembered a grey as well so anyone who wants to go beyond your normal colors and try something bold then RImmel is your brand with this line. I have Blue Iris and Pink Blink which someone in a review said the Blue Iris was patchy. I did mention how the lip primer helps and it did help with the patchiness. These are in the $5 range and you can get them at Target, Ulta, and WalMart!
9. Wet N Wild Color Icon Liquid Cat Suit: The final liquid lipstick best for conventions is the Wet N Wild Ciquid Cat Suit! THESE ARE AMAZING! Wet N Wild first released these at the beginning of this year and when I heard about them I had to try them out. These stay put very well except Goth TOpic always ran all over but hoping it stays put on my lips with the primer. I do have Goth Topic, Rebel Rose which I finally found after two months of looking for it, Gimme Mocha, and all of the Midnight Mermaid ones which happens to be Sea Seduction, Coral Crown, and a red one and a green one. I will be having the green one on hand during Holiday Matsuri for a very festive look for Sunday in my own way. Plus, these are pretty lightweight on the lips which I feel like I am not wearing any liquid lipstick at all once it is set. These are very affordable in the $4 range. I did hear they released Halloween colors but I didn’t look at the moment. Sorry but if you have the Halloween ones, awesome! Still, a great item to get and you can get these at Walgreens, Ulta’s website, and Wet N Wild’s website. I think you can also get them at Walmart since they did carry the Fantasymakers stuff.
Well, that is it for this post! I would put a tenth one but at the moment I am waiting on the new Maybelline Matte Metallics one I picked on Ulta. I haven’t tried the nnw Liquid Suede metallics from NYX yet, it will be a bit for those. I will update on Twitter with the Maybelline one in how well that one goes! So in the meantime, I will be doing my September and October favorites in the next few days so stay tuned guys! Also, donate to our Patreon and Go Fund Me!

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by moonleopard85 on October 24, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in beauty, conventions, Tips and Advice

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 24, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/24/beauty-best-liquid-lipsticks-for-conventions/

Conventions: Brina Palencia Panel from MegaCon 2017!

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! It is time for the final video from MegaCon this year!

Panel: Brina Palencia…Just Part 1

I know what you are wondering, “Part 1?” Well, Nerdy Shirts lost the rest of the panel due to his dad’s computer crashing earlier and that is why it took a while to finish getting the videos up. I understand that tech can be crazy since I am going into Access Tech as my career and computers do crash over time. Heck, I went through it earlier this year with my computer and had to have Gondras post all the Omni footage for me and had to do the posts through my IPad. I do appreciate all Nerdy Shirts did for me during Mega this year as in doing all the videos and covering for Gondras since he only could be there for a day (blame that on Mommy Gondras) and of course was my sighted guide for the entire weekend getting around the crowds who kept on bumping into me without seeing the cane in the vendor room. So yes, I give him the Glittery Star Pawprint of Appreciation for all he did with MegaCon!

So onto the panel, Brina was one of the people who I wanted to interview and sad that I couldn’t try to get an email one with her before the con like with Katie Griffin and Linda Ballumtyne but I did ask her a question and that is “How does it feel to play one of the most iconic characters in anime?” Which was her role in the EVA movies which are 1.1, 2.2 and 3.3 so far. Not sure if 4.4 is being dubbed since that is supposed to be End of Eva in that one. If that doesn’t show in the video, she did say from my memory, “It was fun being Rei!” I did almost have a kitty spazz when someone did ask her about her cats in case if you hear me making any noises in the background because I tend to have a spazz like with what happened in the very first Fairy Tail review I’ve done. So enjoy!

Next will be the best Liquid Lipsticks for Conventions!

Don’t forget to donate to our GO Fund Me and Patreon!

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by moonleopard85 on October 22, 2017  •  Video  •  Permalink
Posted in anime, conventions, Panels

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 22, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/22/conventions-brina-palencia-panel-from-megacon-2017/

Conventions: Totally Spies Reunion Panel from MegaCon 2017!

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! Time for another panel from MegaCon 2017!

Panel: Totally Spies Reunion!

This panel brought back a lot of memories for me because I was a fan of Totally Spies when I was in high school. Yes, I also admit that I did like Brace Face as well but mostly caught Totally Spies even when it was on Cartoon Network in the early 2000s! In this panel we bring back Sam, Alex, and Clover with the actresses Jennifer Hale, Katie Griffin, and Andrea Baker! I know what you are thinking…”Wait! Who did Jennifer play?” She was Sam and Katie was Alex while Andrea played Clover. I think Jennifer also said she was Mandy which you will hear during the panel. This panel was also before the Mass Effect panel with Jennifer and Ally Hillis but this one was also fun to be at.

Is that it? Not yet, Nerdy Shirts will be posting the second part to Brina Palencia’s panel from the first day of MegaCon since he had to record the rest of it on his phone. Don’t worry, we will get that to you as soon as possible! I know we have been to so many panels during Mega and dodge the crowds to get this content for you all!

What is next? I thought it would be fun to do a post for convention tips since I rarely do it and in time for Holiday Matsuri and that is the Best Liquid Lipsticks for convention going! It makes sense since we rarely have that time to drop by a bathroom to re-apply and sometimes come to a panel late or have to host one. So, that will be next!

If you haven’t yet, please donate to our Go Fund Me and Patreon! Besides posts here, will be doing a video soon over on YouTube! Oh right, since it is October, September and October Faves this week! Until next time!

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by moonleopard85 on October 22, 2017  •  Video  •  Permalink
Posted in Cartoons, conventions, Panels

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 22, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/22/conventions-totally-spies-reunion-panel-from-megacon-2017/

Conventions: Billy West Q&A Panel from MegaCon 2017!

/embed]Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! Guess what? We have more MegaCon stuff!

Panel: Billy West Q&A

It is time for the Billy West Q&A panel! I remembered watching Ren & Stimpy when I was a kid in the early 90’s and of course Doug since he played Doug and Roger in that which I did not know until this panel! I did want to interview him but got a no with that but with this one I didn’t mind because the questions he got asked were ones I was going to ask. Oh wells!

Enjoy the videos and next panel will be the Totally Spies Q&A Panel! Stay tuned! If you hadn’t been to it yet, please donate to our Patreon or Go Fund Me since Holiday Matsuri is coming up in December and sharing a room at the World Center, need some help with that!

Search Nerdy Shique Universe Travel an Go Fund Me and Nerdy Shique Universe over on Patreon! Please and thank you!

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by moonleopard85 on October 22, 2017  •  Video  •  Permalink
Posted in Cartoons, conventions, Panels

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 22, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/22/conventions-billy-west-qa-panel-from-megacon-2017/

Updated: Best Convention Snacks!

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! I was going to do this as a video but due to how busy I have been, I decided to do it as a post instead on Word Press. What is it? It is my Convention Survival Snacks! I wanted to do it as a video before Omni when the convention just started for us here in Central Florida but you know my sad computer story and couldn’t do it. If you guys still want a video later, probably before any fall/winter conventions, I could do it but right now with MegaCon fastly upon us dfr Memoria Day Weekend in one week…yeah! What snacks do I suggest, keep reading!

1. Protein Bars: Starting my list is protein bars! Reason why is that these can be tasty but they do help with filling in your appetite as the day goes on. The ones I did carry during Omni were the Cliff bars in Chocolate Mint which is basically a protein bar version of a Thin Mint. Yes, they do have that weird taste but they can be very handy when surviving three or in Mega’s case four days of convention going, it is good to carry one just in case!
2. Granola bars: Since I mentioned protein bars, granola bars are another great thing to carry in your backpack or messenger bag like me! Also for any of your hotel roomies to carry too. These are not that expensive and they do provide energy and protein too alongside fiber in case if anyone needs it. The bars I recommend the best are Quaker bars if you are into chewy bars like I do and have a nice crunch along with it and of course I do love my chocolate chips, S’mores, and of course I used to get the Thin Mint ones last year but a Variety Pack can last you and any roomies that may want a bar or two. If you don’t want them to be a squishy mess, there is the Nature Valley classic bars which are very crunchy and solid and you get two per pack.
3. Cracker packs: I am mentioning these because I started carrying these with me last year as a nice added snack in case if I felt my stomach rumble a lot more and they are those little Thomas or Captain Wafer cracker packs. When I was little and was in the second grade, I had these with my lunch and for snacktime during the day and these were filling and still are. Great thing that these come in different flavors and variety packs if you want more than one flavor and be surprised by eating them. My fave is always the cream cheese and chives because it gives a nice herbal flavor with the wheat crackers. Also, the peanut butter ones with the honey cracker are also good too! You can get them for a good price at WalMart, Publix, Dollar Gneral, and one place here in my area known as Ollie’s.
4. PopTarts: I know they aren’t the healthiest thing on the planet but knowing as a college student and a convention goer and you know you are late, PopTarts are your best friend! You don’t have to toast them, they are already ready for you to eat. Plus, you already have the frosting on top on a lot of them which with Toaster Streudel you have to put it on. Plus, nice accessory for that school girl cosplay to run out of your hotel room with a PopTart in your mouth. (I know, nerd!)
5. Nuts: If you want to keep the healthy part going and need extra protein, nuts are usually your best friend unless you’re not allergic to them. I remembered always carrying cashews and almonds but it was hard for me to finish them off in the end but I did something pretty cool which I will mention next…
6. Brownie brittle: If anyone knows about this then it is handy, if not I will esplain for any new people to the concept. Brownie brittle is basically the thin, baked parts of a brownie, basically the almost burnt bits of the brownie but in cookie form. THey have many flavors and the cool thing I did is I crumbled it up and mixed it with whatever nuts I carried and make it as a mini trail mix. Plus, it is low calorie for bronie brittle!
7. Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches: One of my all time fave things about being a nerd is peanut butter and jelly, especially in the same jar! If you guys remembered Goober Grape from the 1990s like me, then high five! Good thing is that you don’t harefrigerate peanut butter and jelly but you can do it with the sandwich itself after it’s made. I will be doing this since the pb does offer the protein and the j gives you the sweetness! Great for hotel snacking in between panels if you go back to your room and need a snack. Also, helps any of your roomies that may need it and it is also inexpensive when you gather your snacks for the con. I am doing this this time since during Omni until Sunday I didn’t eat breakfast which the good thing is that this is any time food too!
8. Chex Mix: Another thing I love to carry during conventions is basically snack mix especially the beloved Chex Mix! Great thing about these is that you can carry it in small snack bags or you can get a freezer bag like I do and carry ate entire bag in it and it pretty much keeps you eating all weekend. Great to share with others too who love this stuff! What I also like is that there are different flavors to choose from which I do love the Traditional and Turtle ones the most. I want to try Muddy Buddy but got Traditional this time around since the Target I went to didn’t have Muddy Buddy. Anyways, Hershey’s did make their own which I haven’t found in my area yet but may do someday since I love having snack mix and it does keep you snacking even during panels. Heck, I think I had a lot of mix during Ranger Stop with the Cheddar flavor.
9. Japanese snacks: For that Wheeaboo inside of us, there are times when we want something to snack other things and there are times when we find vendors selling Japanese snacks! I always love finding Mr. Japanese Snacks whenever I go to the conventions, especially with Omni and Holiday Matsuri, he tends to carry a lot of new items and the classics that I love and the ones I tend to pick up the most since they last a good while is Hi Chew! They are like Starburst but a lot chewier and they have more flavors like apple, strawberry, and I even found cherry flavored at an Asian market in town. Speaking of which, there are also looking around in Asian markets if you have the time to do so since getting snacks can be time consuiing while packing. Also, you can get a great box of pocky for Scott McNeill.
10. M&M’s: I know candy is not the greatest thing but if you are craving for it then by all means but M&M’s are the best thing to go since they are really good movie snacks and panel snacks. Plus, there are the usual chocolate lovers that tend to carry these and also the old prhrse, “Melt in your moth, not your hand!” Also, if you find the M&M’s World during Omni, then a good idea to get some or a tin!
11. Chips: Potato chips in any style, whether your standard Lay’s, Cape Cod’s, and so much more, can be that perfect snack if you’re craving for them! They can be an excellent snack to share with your roomies or to go into the snack bar at your hotel or into a WaWa need be. The best chip for a backpack would be Pringles since they come in a cardboard tube and they don’t cgetcrushed as easily and you do have the travel size versions which I used to have in my university days. Plus, they are pretty cheap to purchase when you only have a dollar on you.
12. Combos: My finally snack of this list is of course Combos! I know, in case if you haven’t heard, these were re-called a year ago due to finding peanut elements in them and now they have been showing up in stores again, well depending where you live. WalMart bring them back in town. Anyways, these are our fave snack during conventions because they are easy to carry in a freezer bag and we all enjoy them the same. As in me, Gondras, and Nerdy Shirts. They come in pizza flavor, heddar, nacho cheese, and you can choose between the basic cracker and the pretzel. I prefer the pretzel slightly more because I am a pretzel addict! Now youc an see why I ove Chex Mix! Anyways, this is one good snack to carry and you can eat it easily during panels or while sitting down for a break.
Update! Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! I am adding a few updates to this post because I have something to announce at the end and I do have a few more snacks to add that I have forgotten!

Since you guys know that I have done my Convention Spotlight on Holiday Matsuri 2017 and this would be perfect to update this post since we are planning to have a room this year and after going through Irma, I did notice some foods would be great to take during convention and here we go!

Beef Jerky: I forgot to mention this food since Vivi did bring this up after having a huge bag from Sam’s Club during MetroCon 2014! As we all know that Beef jerky has been an important part of a lot of diets and heck it is a great food for a zombie apocalypse due to how it can switstand the environment but it does go old so better eat it as fresh as it is. Great thing is that it is tough and ready to eat and you can get a small bag for easy travel or a huge one for the entire weekend and friends at hotels. And the best flavor to me is teriyaki!
Trail Mix: Since I mentioned Chex Mix, I want to mention this snack and that is Trail Mix. This year for Holiday Matsuri I am planning to make my own but without the raisins. I hate raisins if anyone knows and loves me, no raisins anywhere! I admit I loved them as a kid but I did read that I can make my own Trail Mix even though there are different variations sold. So, why not make my own with stuff I love? It is an easy thing to make and all you need are nuts, seeds, dried fruit which there is a big list of and going to get one other dried fuit after my older brother leaving some dried mango and it is delicious! Plus, you can add other things like popcorn, pretzels, with mine I will be having brownie brittle which I used to do that with almonds and it will be fun. And you do have some seasonings with one recipe I did read. And you can put it in a jar or Ziploc bag and into a lunch box with said bag. If you don’t want to make your own, you can find the pre-made stuff in your local grocery store, heck Nature Valley makes their own Trail Mix bars so you can have for breakfast!
Bagels & Cream Cheese: I bet you are wondering, “Say what now!?” While I was without power during Irma, I had to eat a bagel without toasting it and with cream cheese which shows I can survive on that. If you have a fridge available or cooler, you can keep your cream cheese in there and have a bag of Thomas bagels which you can find at your local supermarket! If you have extra cash, there is always your local bagel shop or Panera, I would suggest Bagel King if you are in Casselberry since they have really good bagels but if you want to spend less, Thomas has good ones and they are not as strong as most places which you can use the sweeter cream cheeses on the blueberry and cinnamon flavored gbgels, heck I use the Philadelphia cumpkin Spice cream cheese on the Thomas Pumpkin Spice bagels and it feels like you are eating pumpkin cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory! If you want them toasted, there is something cool you can do according to Hack My Life and it deals with the coffee maker in your hotel room where you can switch it on and toast your bagel face down for a little bit. Not sure if it works but that would be interesting to do if you need to toast it unless you spring for a suite with a kitchen that has a toaster like the Extended Stay near the Convention Center in town.
Ritz Bits: I got this idea from Nerdy Shirts and not sure if I had mentioned it but these have existed since I was a kid and best to carry them.
Dried fruit: If you aren’t into trail Mixes, there is always carrying dried fruit if you want your daily fiber intake which is important. Plus, you can refrigerate it or not and eat it straight out of the bag and they don’t go as bad as regular fruit since that can go bad pretty easily depending on what you bring. Even banana and apple chips are very popular for people when it comes to anything fruity. Also, if you have a fridge/freezer in your room or staying at home if it is close to the convention site, which we knew people who did, there are the Dole Banana Dippers.
Flavored Bread: As in banana bread, blueberry bread, etc. Remembered when I mentioned Thomas? They do have good breads that you can eat cold or toasted if you have toast. I wonder if that coffee maker toaster hack will work with this? Anyways, also WalMart’s bakery section does make their own too from what I remembered.
Deli Meats And Cheeses: Since I mentioned peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, if you are allergic to PB, you can always have deli meats and cheeses for sandwiches too. Since some rooms do come with refrigerators, that can help them keep them cool…or….
Lunchables: How can we not forget these!? I remembered carrying one each day when I started going to MegaCon with Gondras back in 2007 and these were handy too! Just carry a huge lunchbox and have one in there and there you go!

Well, that is it for this post again with added snacks! As a convention goer, these do help with survival and help you keep going before your next meal, especially with dinner.

Okay guys, time for seriousness! I am keeping the Patreon link down below but I am letting you guys know that with Holiday Matsuri that me, Gondras, and Nerdy Shirts will be sharing a room with some friends so it will be easier to stay at the World Center rather than driving back and forth in Orlando and gives us a weekend away from home too. So, I need help with my part to pay for the room which I am going to leave the link to Go Fund Me since that is supposed to be for our travels and haven’t gotten any donations. I need about $69.30 to pay for my part and if you guys want to donate more you can in case of gas or something but that’s all I need on my end since I am not sure about my funds situation until December. So, to donate to our Go Fund Me, it is at this link:

https://www.gofundme.com/nerdy-shique-universe-travel

Like I said in the description for this thing, conventions have gotten more expensive during the four years that we have been doing press and this our third year at Holiday Matsuri and it is an awesome opportunity and we can’t get our footage, photos, and interviews out to the net without all you guys so please donate if you can! Also, check out our Patreon down below since it feels like YouTube doesn’t allow you to mention them much anymore so please donate and help us and spread the word!

By the way guys, we have a Patreon now! Since we don’t have any donations on Go Fund Me, which you should donate to that to so we can have our convention experiences in and out of town to bring you awesome content to our YouTube, so we also have Patreon to continue it! Here is our link to donate:

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=6153140

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by moonleopard85 on October 15, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in conventions, Food, snacks, Travel

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 15, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/15/updated-best-convention-snacks/

Convention Spotlight: Holiday Matsuri 2017

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! It is time! What time is it!? It’s Convention Spotlight Time! Which one is it?

Convention: Holiday Matsuri 2017
Location: Marriott World Center Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, FL
Dates: December 15th-17th, 2017

Yes it is back for another year! Orlando’s #1 Holiday Themed con is back for another year and at the same location as last year, Holiday Matsuri! Also, this is our third year of press and that means new coverage, hoping new people to interview this year since you guys love those things when it comes to the Shique Hot Seat, and seeing about events to cover for this year too. I will update at Twitter @ Nerdy Shique with the events the convention chooses for us to cover so I would suggest to follow that. Also, I did put in a panel form this year so hoping you guys will get to see a new panel from me! Let’s see the info for anyone new who wants to check this convention out!

Location: Holiday Matsuri is returning to the World Center Marriott here in Orlando! If you guys have not been to this during last year’s convention or during Omni Expo Year 1, you may have seen how huge this place is! It is located at 8701 World Center Blvd. which is close to the Walt Disney area. If anyone wants to book a room, there is a convention rate for this year, You can book the room at:

http://holidaymatsuri.com/2017hotel/

And make sure to use the code for the discount rate and I have seen the rooms all thanks to Nerdy Shirts staying there last year and they are nice and depending on the floor, you do get a nice view! If it is still warm in Orlando this year, you do have a nice pool area, then you have the Pantry where you can get food and it is pretty nicely priced but if you don’t want to buy there there are restaurants in the surrounding area including Wendy’s, CiCi’s, and so much more! I also heard they decorate the hotel nice for Christmas, I know in the event rooms they do but haven’t seen the outside so get your cameras ready!

Registration Info: Of course we have to mention Registration which is important for any of you going to any convention! To buy tickets you will be buying them through Event Bright, you can also do it through the Event Bright app on your IOS and Andorid devices which once installing the app and signing up, you search for Orlando, FL and Holiday Matsuri will be listed or you can try searching for this event too to make it easier. The passes availkable now are the Three Day pass, the VIP Pass, and the Forever Festive Pass. If you want single day, those will be available online closer to the event so keep an eye out on the website as December gets closer.

If you bought any tickets during September, $5 of sales went to Save The Children which is a charity that helped displaced kids during Hurricane Irma. You can donate through their link on the Registration page which I will link to here:

http://holidaymatsuri.com/2017registration/

It will also include all the registration and pass info! I would say pre-register as soon as possible even if you are getting a pass for aloved one as an early holiday gift! (Not bad of an idea!)

Guests: This year there are a variety of guests which you can check out here:

http://holidaymatsuri.com/2017guests/

Some of the guests include:

Christina V.: She is the new voice of Sailor Mars and of course Homura Akemi in Madoka Majica.
J. Michale Tatum: Scar in FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Sebastion in Black Butler.
Brandon McInnis: Appeared in Black Butler as well.
Fred Tatasciore: He was just announced and you may know him as the Incredible Hulk in Avengers Assemble!

Vendor’s Room: For anyone who needs a last minute holiday gift, Holiday Matsuri is your best stop for that nerd who loves anime, movies, video games, etc. in your family or your significant other! You can find a variety of merch and artist made items in this room. Can’t wait to see what vendors they bring to this room this year!

Events and Contests: If you are wondering about events and contests, you can find information about contest sign up and other info here: http://holidaymatsuri.com/2017contestsandevents/

If you haven’t seen our cosplay gallery where we included pics of the winners from last year’s Holiday Runway COntest, I would say search for it on here! It is a very fun and festive contest where people do holiday themed versions of characters that we know and love!

Well, that is it for this Convention Spotlight! This year’s convention will be exciting and hoping to see you guys there in holiday cosplay or in regular clothes! In case if you guys need some night life outside of the convention, there is always Disney down the road even Disney Springs since they will be going through their Holiday Events especially Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Universal doing their holiday stuff as well. And of course, Last Jedi is opening in December and Thor Ragnarok will still be in theaters which Gondras and I are excited for that!

Hope to see you guys there! What is next? I am thinking of updating the Convention Snacks post because I do have two new entries to add and it would help in the snack department for you all who are staying at any hotel during any convention, even for Holiday Matsuri! You guys can also find our past Holiday Matsuri coverage which includes the Cosplay Galerries from the past two years, our interviews with Josh Seth, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Steve Blum, and Todd Haberkorn! You can head over to our YouTube channel for all of our Holiday Matsuri videos!

SO that is it! Until next time and stay tuned for our Last Minute Info post in December!

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by moonleopard85 on October 14, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in anime, Cartoons, conventions, cosplay, Gaming, Internet, Travel

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 14, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/14/convention-spotlight-holiday-matsuri-2017/

Cosmetic Controversy: What Is Up With Morphe!?

Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! I was going to do the Convention Spotlight but then thought about something. Don’t worry, I will get it up as soon as I can since I have been really busy and noticed this has been popping up and that is all about Morphe.

I know you guys know that I am not interested in the eye shadows from Morphe but I am willing to give their brushes a chance and when I found out that they are coming to Ulta and already have a page waiting for products, I hear more controversies about the brand and decided to look at some stuff on my own and thought about doing a Cosmetic Controversy post on it!

Controversies: There are a lot of controversies behind the brand such as brushes shedding, eye shadows staining people’s eyes, bad customer service, and even how people push their codes and here are my thoughts…

Disclaimer: This area is based on thoughts and opinions of the lead writer of this blog! Please respect her thoughts since she is entitled to the opinion she presents!

Thoughts: I know things are hectic with this brand since this brand did get its start from social media and its popularity all thanks to working with YouTubers, well the bigger YouTube personalities such as Jacklyn Hill, Kathleen Lights, Laura Leigh, and even Manny MUA. Apparently, they were supposed to have a brush set made with Jeffree Starr since they do carry some of his makeup products but drama is involved with that between him and Jacklyn from what I have been hearing in the Grapevine. I would say is that usually brands do get noticed by the audience all thanks to people on social media talking about them. Remembered when I was with Ipsy and BoxyCharm? I always talked about them here when I got a bag and box from each and then review them honestly and even linked my social media so people might be interested in the brand that appeared in each of them. I still laugh a little when years ago when I first heard about the Lipnotic lipsticks by Maybelline all thanks to commercials that played on YouTube about them and through some of the reviews and get asked, “How do I know about these things?” by an employee and mentioned YouTube and this is at WalMart by the way. All thanks to seeing it on YouTube the consumer wants to pick up that item. Unfortunately, nowadays with the push of the Morphe discount codes does get a bit annoying and that kind of causes the person to get annoyed, ahem Laura Leigh did snap on Snap Chat about how people got mad about her and Manny getting things for free at the Morphe store and waving their codes around. I like the idea of using a coupon code like with Ulta but I don’t have to use it, it is a choice and the question is now if Morphe is going to be in Ulta will those codes still be valid? As in, will Morphe still do codes since the new CEO wants to expand the Morphe brand into stores and create new locations in the United States? That is pretty good questions don’t you think? I even wondered myself after hearing the news from Sanders Kennedy about Ulta and Morphe partnering up since now Ulta is carrying a lot of bigger brands and a few independent ones such as Fiona Styles for example. Time will tell and seeing how far the codes will go and who knows how many YouTubers will be involved and be affiliated with Morphe since staff has changed. I bet you’re wondering, will I be an affiliate with Morphe? Maybe not since I am not as popular and haven’t tried them yet which brings my next point!

The Products and Quality! Well, lately there have been stories about the products that Morphe makes aren’t as great as they are promoted which has me wondering what I should get when Ulta starts to carry them when it comes to brushes. I wonder should I do the set or should I do individual brushes? Now the story is that there was one girl who got a set, Korina Kaboom credited here, that she ended up having a scratched eye due to how the brushes fell apart and scratched her eye and it is from the Copper Dreams set. I know that the set being carried by Ulta is going to be the Vegan 9-piece set according to Pop Sugar. I did ask my friend Vivi about her set since she got a set of Morphe brushes to try out and used them when we were doing a girls’ makeup day and she told me they only shedded a little bit but they are still good brushes and that I should try them out. After hearing the story about the girl I decided to do some research about the Morphe experiences and someone did have a bad reaction to a brush ingredient that wasn’t listed and then one story came up and that is about Jacklyn’s brush set.

As we all know that the set sold out and re-stocked twice and some orders were cancelled for no reason, which I will talk about in customer service, fans were mad about the set for shedding all over them even when applying their makeup. People have posted on the Instagram and Twitter complaining about it and according to John Cookian, these brushes are private labeled where Morphe can just stamp their name all over any brush set from the lab/warehouse and sell it without testing it first. Now my question is that will the brushes that Ulta will be getting, since they are supposed to be the more popular among the singles in this round of release and one set, will they be crappy and shed or will they be more of the better quality? I am definitely going to take the jump and try the brushes and see how they compare and well they work. If they shed then it will happen. Heck, I even remember Korina mentioned in video today that we have to research in the products and the brand itself before buying since that is a good point. Heck, when I first tried Physician’s FOrmula I did research into it and tried it and didn’t like it which made me take it back. Which what I like about Morphe being at Ulta, you can take your receipt and your purchases back to any store to get your money back. If you are wondering shadows…I did mention this in my anti-haul…I did hear how some of the shadow pallets do come broken which I am thinking will they come in tact to Ulta which the good thing is they use really good bubble wrap and place some items into plastic bags for comfy shipping. That will be a great plus buying them from Ulta. Anyways, what is another frightening thing is that the shadows do stain the eyes which I heard a story on Korina’s channel where a girl was using a pink shadow from a Morphe pallet that stained her eyes for days until she had to use coconut oil to remove it. Yes, some shadows stain but they do get removed pretty easily if you have the right kind of remover, heck even Ponds tends to remove a lot of makeup in one go. With the new CEO, will the quality concerns be looked at and have a formula watch? A lot of companies are doing that nowadays if there are inconsistencies and improve the formula. Heck, even testing on people to see if they do stain would help. Another thing, a warning label would help since Urban Decay did that with their Electric pallet when it was till around by warning people that some pigments aren’t eye safe in the pallet. It wouldn’t be so hard Morphe.

And finally, customer service being bad! When researching for this post, I did have a Better Business Bureau page pop up for Morphe and man everyone talked about the customer service being horrible especially at the stores! Okay, this does happen depending on who gets hired and there are times when people do have bad days. Heck, I remembered how a salon worker at Ulta sounded annoyed when I said Marc Anthony was a drugstore product and she said, “I didn’t know, I work with pro hair care.” Heck, even watching stories about bad Sephora and MAC experiences with some of the workers were even entertaining. Back to the point, some of the stories I noticed included how a concealer that was never used was opened and it couldn’t be returned to only getting 10% of your refund for a ruined pallet, to many others and all I have to say is that Morphe may have been a new brand but I do agree with a lot from what I have read and that they should be training their workers a lot better, especially with shipping products which I read one story that someone got two other products that weren’t her brush set and had a better experience but the girl helping her over the phone agreed that the brush set should have been sent the first time. Heck, I even had the same kind of customer service with E. L. F. when I got the wrong orders except I didn’t have to pay for extra and they did apologize for their mistakes but did have a hard time when I got a bundle a few months later to get someone from customer service when I haven’t gotten it yet which reminds me! Latest problem was when the Jacklyn Hill pallet got re-stocked for a third time and people had to wait two weeks for their pallet to ship and Morphe kind of dropped a ball, a huge yarn ball, since they didn’t have the pallets to send out. I can imagine a lot of people crowding the Twitter with pitchforks and torches figuratively speaking but they should’ve addressed it with, “Sorry for the delay! We will get your pallets out as soon as we can!” Instead of having complete silence and same with Jacklyn since this is her product and she should’ve keep in contact with Morphe to make sure the pallets shipped out.

Will we experience the same thing? Well, so far there is no product on the Ulta website so far when the page already went up this past Sunday. Milani is now carried at Ulta and they have products up on their page with Ulta and even had a coupon in my email this morning. Apparently, Morphe hasn’t put an exact date from what I heard with when they will be there but hoping it will be soon.

Also, since I mentioned customer service, Ulta’s customer service is amazing! I had to get my Marc Anthony Growth Spray and Shea Moisture Coconut Oil replaced all thanks to their outstanding customer service. Heck, there was a time when I got charged for the original price of the Smoked pallet from Urban Decay and they credited me for that and that was three years ago! Still amazing as always. If a Morphe item does get damaged or poops out shadow from a pan, Ulta will gladly send a new one and they do have a pretty fair return policy in store if you do it within a month of purchasing the product. Also, if you do have the card you purchased with, you do get a full refund and if not then you get a in-store credit for that in the full amount. Sounds better than just getting 10% of your refund even with pics.

Verdict: Yes, hearing about these stories make me a little skeptical in buying anything from Morphe but I think with the items they will get into Ulta it may not be as bad as what people have experienced. They have changed management and maybe things will be better in production quality since brands do that a lot, which look at E. L. F. and Wet ‘N Wild, they have changed their formula in a lot of products and have gotten better and now beating a lot of brands out of the water, especially with their new products! Even E. L. F. has skin care at affordable pricing and good quality from what I am hearing. I am still on the fence if I want to try the set of brushes or get some of the individuals to try out a little bit before committing to the set, whatever I do decide I will see if the brushes are worth the hype since I do have a lot of brush sets I have picked up from Ipsy and Amazon over time. Heck, I still have a set from E. L. F. and a few brushes from Wet ‘N Wild including the two limited edition ones from this year. So, this will be a good try out and thinking of making a video on them. Gotta remember, this will be honest and I do love being that with my products I purchase!

That is about it for this post! I am glad to get this off my chest since it would nag at me as time goes on. Also, if you guys have noticed a new page saying “Affiliate Links” then you aren’t wrong in seeing that. Well, here at Nerdy Shique Universe, I have mentioned that I loved Coastal Scents and do have the first four Revealed pallets along with some brushes and now we are an affiliate with them! You can click on that link and do get 7% commission with each purchase! It is not easy being broke and I am still trying to get my career started and of course still working on my third book at the moment! So, support and use the link if you want.

Now, next will be the Convention Spotlight on Holiday Matsuri! Must do it before Halloween! Until next time!

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by moonleopard85 on October 11, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in beauty

Posted by moonleopard85 on October 11, 2017

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2017/10/11/cosmetic-controversy-what-is-up-with-morphe/

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