Colorful Beauty Haul in BH Cosmetics

I have to tell you when I first discovered this makeup I was unsure about what to think because of it's crazy deals and crazy steals.  Though, being an artist, a girl and a lover of makeup I was so gravitated.  I looked up on You Tube for some makeup tutorials, one of my favorite channels being Nitraab!  She is just so pretty and amazing and I've really taken a lot of her makeup advice.  There are many but she's probably one of my favorites.  I'll provide her link at the end of this blog.  

So I gave in.  I looked BH Cosmetics on Facebook, Scoured the Internet for reviews, checked them out on Instagram, Twitter and finally their website.  What caught me besides the amazing crazy amount of colors is the crazy deals and appreciation they have for their customers.  When they hit a certain amount of followers on Facebook they provided everyone with a deal as a thank you!  This was my chance to try them out.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on these palettes.  It doesn't end there because they just keep coming out with amazing deals, it's hard to not give in.  They didn't have to twist my arm.

I got my first shipment, I slowly opened up the package.  So darn excited.  Like a little kid in a candy shop.  Perfectly packaged, I pulled out my beautiful palettes.  I managed to pick up a few other things like makeup remover towelettes, lip gloss and some pencil liners.  My daughter being in the same room I think was just as excited. I opened them up and I was just in awe!  All the colors.  When, where and how will I use these colors and as I look at my daughter it dawned on me.  Halloween, Gymnastics Shows, Holidays and Girl Time.

Above is their 4th and 5th Edition Palettes and Lip Gloss Palettes.  240 Eyeshadows and 66 Lip Glosses, Really????  Yes Really?  Excessive????  No not at all!  Possiblities????  Yes, Endless!!!!

This was my second order where they had another great deal offering BH Party Girl Colors and Cosmetic Brushes.

Well I waited to try them out and write this review.  I was bad with this whole order but I didn't spend more than $50.00.  Which may I add shipping was free and I never make an online purchase I hit Retail Me Not.  Adding extra coupon codes in the order I got a little extra off.  Thank You Retail Me Not!  They have coupon codes for just about every retailer to do your online shopping with great discounts.

BH Cosmetics Palettes feature tons of colors, brushes, primers in an assortment of editions and in every category.  From Face to Eyes to Lips.  As well as accessories.  

If you think about it, we go into a drugstore, grocery store etc.... to buy makeup and we spend an arm and a leg on these makeups not knowing if they're good or not and we are at home feeling & ripped off. First of all I have to tell you before buying, look on the internet.  Get other makeup lovers opinions.  Professional and Freelance Makeupaholics.  They are a great source of info.

Here is what I learned.  Take advantage of their deals.  Head over to Retail Me Not and grab some coupon codes.

I love BH Cosmetics Eyeshadows and Lip Glosses.  The colors are highly pigmented and go on great.  You can get very creative with the colors.  Don't be afraid to use them.

I suggest buying an eye primer to put on before you use eyeshadow, it helps it stay on and pop.  BH Cosmetics offers an eye primer that also acts as a lip stick primer.  That works great as well and I recommend it.

I did it relatively light and I didn't have my camera to do a close up of my eye makeup.  Not happy with the eyeliner as it was Waterproof and dried before I could do it the way I wanted it to, also it made my lashes hard coated.  So if you plan on crying, waterproof eyeliner from Maybelline is the way to go.  I have watery eyes at times so I use waterproof eyeliner but honestly I think I will stick with regular to make it a better winged look.  I think I tried to apply eyeliner like 3 times.  This all took longer than expected.  The lipstick is one of the reds in the BH Cosmetics lip glosses applied with a lip brush and a sparkly glitter which you can't see in the photo but provided some fun.  I also added some Wet n Wild's MEGA LAST® LIQUID LIP COLOR in Red My Mind.  It lasts a long time but if you remove it off your lips it comes off not so lovely.  Here are a few photos using BH Cosmetics.  I will be adding more looks using BH Cosmetics as I use them and experiment.  Foundation Face Makeup (MAC Studio Fix) and Eyebrow Makeup provided by MAC Cosmetics.

For Saint Patrick's Day my daughter wanted to be festive so I did a flag influenced colors on her eyelids using a BH Palette in Orange, Yellow and Green to show her Irish Pride.

Another look Influenced by her Monster High Doll Frankiestein.  Yes that's blue lipstick!

Funny thing about the above picture my friend had asked me to do it in Black & White and said it looked like Morticia from Addams Family.  So I turned into Black and White and this is what she came up.  This is Angelica Huston as Morticia.  I think that I may just be her for Halloween.  Need to make my makeup just a little more dramatic.  Morticia Addams photo from Internet and side by side created by my friend.  What do you think?

I don't think I'll be buying eyeshadows at the grocery store anymore.  For what I can get for 4 colors at the store, I can get 120 colors through BH Cosmetics.  Well worth it.  I see myself buying these as gifts for friends and clients!

These are perfect for Costume Makeup and for Performance Shows like Gymnastics, Wedding and Bridal Makeup too!

BH Cosmetics Online

BH Cosmetics on Facebook

BH Cosmetics on Pinterest

BH Cosmetics on You Tube

My Favorite Freelance Makeup Artist Tutorial Videos:

Nitraa B

Please checkout my review on my favorite foundation makeup in my next post.

Have a great weekend & Holiday!

xo, Annamaria

Torta di Cioccolato: Decadent Chocolate Flourless Cake

Although today is Saint Patrick's Day most people would think that I would make something green or Irish inspired cuisine.  However, Scott being Irish has no interest in eating Corned Beef, Cabbage and Potatoes.  He loves them all, just not together in one day.  Then really I think the whole hype of Wearing Green, Binge Drinking, Eating Corned Beef and Cabbage really is an American thing.  In Ireland it's actually considered a very holy day.  They have festivals to carry out the holy day.  Although they may wear green, dyeing the rivers or waters, drinking green beer or eating corned beef and cabbage is not celebrated in Ireland.  The young do however go to the Pubs to pay homage to their love of their land.  The more mature go to church.

So here we are, I though even thought it may not be a huge celebration in our home despite the heavy Irish side, it would be nice to be a little green in our home.  Nothing wrong with being patriotic, proud and celebrate your heritage.  I am not Irish but I thoroughly influence my family with my Italian culture so it's a nice change, plus we are Catholics.

Today I thought I'd gift the Irish in my home with a sweet treat.  It may not be green but it sure would make them happy.  I also decided to make some Chocolate  Covered Mint Oreos decorated with Andes Mints to throw in the green!

Erin Go Braugh!

I decided to make a decadent Chocolate Flourless Cake.  A special treat.  I decided to leave a message on it saying Erin Go Braugh and then I changed my mind.  I added some blackberries to decadent around so it wasn't boring and kept it an elegant treat without sounding too cheesy.  This dessert is great with or without the glaze.  Leaving it without the glaze and sprinkling the top with powdered sugar would be lovely.  I added blackberries before the glaze set.  I would of put raspberries but for some reason the grocer was out of them.  Go figure of course when I want them they don't have them.

This cake uses no flour so it is gluten free.

Here is the recipe:
Adapted from Fine Cooking

Decadent Chocolate Flourless Cake

For the cake:
12 oz. Ghiradelli chips
6 oz. (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into six pieces; more for the pan
5 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted if lumpy; more for the pan

For the Glaze:
4 oz. (3/4 cup) semi-sweet, coarsely chopped or chips (I used Ghiradelli chips)
3 Tbs. unsalted butter

Directions:
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 300°F. Lightly butter the bottom of a 9x2-inch round cake pan or a 9" Springform Pan and line it with a round of parchment. Lightly butter the parchment and the sides of the pan and dust with cocoa powder. Tap out any excess.

Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave or in a medium metal bowl set in a skillet of barely simmering water, stirring with a rubber spatula until smooth. Remove the bowl from the water bath and set aside to cool slightly.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, and 2 Tbs. water. Beat on mediumhigh speed until the mixture is very foamy, pale in color, and doubled in volume, 2 min. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually pour in the chocolate mixture. Increase the speed to medium high and continue beating until well blended, about 30 seconds. Add the cocoa powder and mix on medium low just until blended, about 30 seconds.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a pick inserted in the center comes out looking wet with small gooey clumps, 38 to 42 min. Don’t overcook.

Let cool in the pan on a rack for 30 min. If necessary, gently push the edges down with your fingertips until the layer is even. Run a small knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Cover the cake pan with a wire rack and invert. Remove the pan and parchment and let the cake cool completely. The cake may look cinched in around its sides, which is fine. Transfer to a cake plate. Cover and refrigerate the cake until it’s very cold, at least 6 hours or overnight.

*Doesn't look very pretty but it will be....

Glaze the cake:
Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave or in a medium metal bowl set in a skillet of barely simmering water, stirring with a rubber spatula until smooth just as you did before. Pour the warm glaze over the chilled cake and, using an offset spatula, spread the glaze evenly to within 1/4 inch of the edge.

*I think this picture looks cool....hee hee!

Refrigerate the cake until the glaze is set, 20 to 40 min. Before serving, remove the cake from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature, 20 to 30 min. To serve, cut the cake into small, if not tiny, slices using a hot knife.

Tip: To slice this cake (or any dense, sticky cake), heat the knife first, either by dipping it in a tall container of very hot water or by holding it under hot running water for a few seconds. Then wipe it dry before cutting the cake. The knife will cool quickly, and the cake will start sticking, so expect to rinse and repeat several times. A crème brûlée torch, if you have one, is also handy for heating up a knife.


This dessert is decadent and rich but has a light texture, a little goes a long way.  I would say it serves about 8-12 people.  If you have a chocolate lover they will definitely ask for a second piece.  It is a huge hit in my home and everyone loves it.  Myself, I say it's perfect and perfect for the chocoholic in me!!  =)


Have a Sweet St. Patrick's Day!
Annamaria