Friday, May 29, 2015

First MAC Lipstick!


Since I first saw pictures of the newest MAC collection, Wash and Dry, I’ve been intrigued.  First off, the packaging is amazing!  Even though I know how to make this type of color design on metal, I love the rainbow metallic look.  Also, some of the eyeliner swatches looked to be almost duochrome when I saw them online, so I knew I needed to check them out in person.

The Wash and Dry collection was in stock and right at the front of the store.  The packaging was amazing, but not enough for me to get anything, and the eyeliners unfortunately weren’t what I wanted.  Did you pick anything up from the collection?  Comment below!


There were plenty of sales associates around who checked to see if they could help but were not pressuring, which was really nice.  One was a huge help, and made my whole experience very enjoyable.  I posed the question: If you could only have one lipstick, which would it be?  After giving him some guidelines (not super pale nude, not frosty), he came up with two MLBB options that both went with the lip liner Soar.  I picked the slightly darker Brave to try on, and it was AMAZING!

He also did a great job color matching me for foundation.  He picked the Mineralize Moisture foundation after discussing my skin type with me, and tried a few colors to determine that I was NW15, which was also confirmed by another passing sales associate.  What MAC foundation do you prefer?


All in all, I had a great experience, bought my first MAC products, and got color matched to boot.  I look forward to really putting my lipstick to the test and seeing if it lives up to the hype.

What was your first MAC lipstick?  What’s your favorite?

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Birchbox - May 2015


Birchbox teamed up with Cupcakes and Cashmere this month to create a very cute box.  


In addition to curating this month’s boxes, the founder Emily Schuman noted some of her favorite beauty products, provided a recipe from her new book, and offered some special deals for both her magazine and newest book.

Harvey Prince Sea Salt Texturizing Mist – I have really liked what sea salt sprays do for my hair, and I have liked every scent I have received from Harvey Prince, so I am really looking forward to using this.

Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel – This gel moisturizer seems to be unscented and absorbs quickly.  This does not have SPF and they recommend using it in the morning, so I will need to make sure to use a separate sunscreen with this.  What is your HG daytime moisturizer?  Do you use one with SPF or do you use separate sunscreen?




Pixi Beauty Fairy Dust in Honey Glaze – This loose powder eyeshadow reminds me of another I received in an Ipsy bag.  I’ve seen this in stores before and was intrigued, but I like being able to try it this way.  The color is nice and should be a good base color, although it did take several passes in the swatch for it to be really visible.  The wand in the lid makes this loose powder relatively easy to use.  Do you like using loose powders?

Prescriptives Super Line Preventor Xtreme – This is a serum that is supposed to minimize wrinkles and protect against signs of aging.  This has a little bit of an odd scent and is very thick.  One thing I wasn’t expecting when I opened this was that the serum itself is rather orange-y pink, which I hadn’t seen before.


Tocca Isabel Eau de Parfum – This scent seems to be everywhere right now.  Birchbox says that it has hints of rose, orange, and amber.  I did try this once and wasn’t a huge fan.  The rose was very overpowering to me.  But I did smell the orange coming through, so I will give it another shot.
Overall, while the box was cure, I was somewhat underwhelmed with it this month.  I am looking forward to using the texturizing mist and Fairy Dust, but the others are just meh.  I’m sure most things will get used, but this was definitely not my best box.

How was your Birchbox this month?  What was your favorite item?

Not signed up for Birchbox yet?  Check it out here (my referral link).

Monday, May 25, 2015

Happy Memorial Day!


Thank you to all who served, and to all who gave their lives defending our country.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Magnetic Needle Box


Lots of people are on the depotting wagon (removing the metal pans of makeup from the plastic packaging and putting in big magnetic palettes), and even more have a stash of Z-Palettes at home to hold loose pans of makeup.

The thing with the Z-palettes, though, is the cost.  Those suckers are expensive!  There are plenty of DIY videos on YouTube, usually making them out of old DVD cases, or sometimes out of CD cases.  There’s also word going around about a magnetic closable plastic craft box, about the size of a DVD case, that is getting favorable reviews.


These are all great ideas, but I realized something: I’m not a huge fan of palettes.  Since I do most of my makeup on the run (in the car, on the train, at my desk, etc.), I realized that I actually prefer singles or small sets.  I had gotten myself the Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot blush palette for Christmas, and it hasn’t gotten much love because it’s too big to fit in my bag.  So I set out to find something small I could transfer the pots into for travel purposes.

I really liked the idea of the plastic craft box, but it was just too big for my purposes.  But when I was looking around the craft store for it, I actually ran across The Needle Nest.  This is a small box made of hard plastic that is lined with a magnetic sheet.  (Bonus that it comes with 2 needles)  I was able to find these at both Joann Fabrics and Michael's Crafts, but you might have to hunt to find them.


Here I've used the Rockateur pan from the Cheeky Sweet palette to show the size.  The box is a little big for one, not big enough for two.  But it would be perfect for one cheek color and a few eyeshadows.


One of my worries with this box was that it would be too thin to close completely with product inside.  Didn't run into that problem with these, although domed cheek products might have some trouble.


And let me tell you, these magnets are super strong!  This blush isn't going anywhere unless I want it to.

I have two Needle Nests right now, which is perfect for carting around a blush and bronzer.  These fit right into my makeup bag and since they're thin, they don't take up too much room.

If you've found anything that would work better, let me know in the comments!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Ipsy - May 2015



Ipsy sent us traveling in May 2015, or at least prepared us to travel in style.  The theme this month was Jetsetter, and my bag really fit the bill to prep me for that.

Let me start by saying… the bag this month is so cute!  And oh so true!  This may become my new makeup bag.  J The bag itself is relatively simple since it really is just a reinforced white canvas bag, but it seems pretty sturdy and it doesn’t feel like the design will disintegrate.

I said before that the products I received prepped me to jetset.  The 5 products were very well rounded and, with just a few other things, you really could jet off with this bag.  It has several multitaskers and many items people would consider essentials.



·         Chella Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Color – This is a super skinny pencil in a nice cool shade that seems like it would work on most people.  This is a product that I’d call a multitasker because, in a pinch, you could probably use it as an eyeliner.  Have you ever tried a Chella eyebrow product before?

·         CoTZ Face Sunscreen – I have been using Cotz products for years, and they are very good sunscreens.  This one looks very orange coming out of the tube but sheers out completely.  It leaves skin feeling soft, not sticky or greasy.  I can see this working well under makeup, almost like a primer, or even possibly in place of a tinted moisturizer.  What is your favorite sunscreen?


·         Luxie 205 Tapered Blending Brush – This brush is SO soft!  I look forward to using it for blending and crease work.

·         Peter Lamas Naturals Detoxifying Citrus C Facial Cleanser – I love the scent of this facial cleanser.  I can totally see the orange aroma waking me up in the morning.  And really, who says you can’t indulge yourself with this sample and use it for more than just your face to give your whole body an invigorating wakeup?

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Ozone – What’s funny is, I actually just bought the NYX lip primer the day before this came.  I’m loving that one under glosses; hopefully this will work just as well.  I always thought this was a standard clear lip liner?

 Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lipgloss in Failbait and Bittersweet – These have intrigued me since they came out recently, so I am thrilled to have a sample!  I do wish they were in different packaging, because I find foil blister packs for lip products difficult to deal with.  Like any lip product, this can also be used as a blush.  Did you pick any of these up yet?  Which is your favorite color?

Overall, I love my Ipsy bag this month.  I think it is very well-rounded and think I’ll get good use out of everything here.

How was your Ipsy bag?  What was your favorite item?


If you haven’t signed up for Ipsy yet (just $10 a month!), click here (my referral link).

Friday, May 15, 2015

My Current Nighttime Routine

I love seeing what other people out there in the blog-o-verse do to get ready or un-ready every day.  I thought you might like to see how I do things just a little bit different.

Minimally, I wear at least a little bit of eye makeup every day.  I used to be really bad about removing it because I didn't have a good way, until I went to my very first Mary Kay consultation.  (You can check out a recent one here.)  The consultant introduced me to their eye makeup remover, and I have been a fan ever since.  Like most things, I do switch up brands pretty much every time; right now, I’m finishing up my Body Shop Chamomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover.  It works pretty well, but it does sting if I use too much.  Do you use a separate eye makeup remover?

Next step: a makeup remover wipe.  Again, I switch these up.  Right now, I’m using Yes To Carrots Fragrance-Free Makeup Remover Wipes.  They work pretty well, and the slight scent reminds me of baby wipes.  I do have some of my HG Neutrogena ones waiting for me just in case (I've had some issues with Yes To products in the past).

Based on my dermatologist’s recommendations, I no longer clean my face using face wash or other soaps.  So, especially since certain wipes don’t always get all of the makeup off, and some eye makeup is extra stubborn, I decided to give micellar water a shot.  I've been using Sephora’s Triple Action Cleansing Water, and it’s OK.  I wouldn't use it alone, but I do see more makeup come off with it after using my wipes.  I also really like it in the morning to clean up any last traces of eye makeup after my shower, since I can use it after I put my contacts in.  Have you tried out micellar water yet?  Did you like it?

Last (and most recently added) step of the cleaning process: an exfoliant.  I asked my dermatologist about this one, since previously she had told me not to use scrubs, etc.  Turns out, mild chemical exfoliants were deemed OK.  I happened to have a sample of Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant from Birchbox, so I’ve been using that in my T-zone.  Since I had always preferred physical exfoliants, any recommendations on other chemical ones to try?

Whew!  Now that I've finished cleaning, I can start putting some of the moisture back into my chronically dry skin.  I start off with a good eye cream.  Right now, I've been finishing up a deluxe sample of Clinique All About Eyes which was so good I went out and bought the full size.

After applying a prescription cream to some problem areas, I use a night facial cream.  I just started using Pond’s Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream, and it has a different texture than I’m used to.  It’s very thick but still jiggles around in the jar, and I’m having a hard time figuring out exactly how much to use.  Hopefully a few more days with it and things will get better.



For lips, I've been going between Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips, and I just started using Jouer Lip Enhancer.  They’re all pretty good, but none of them compare to my beloved Lip Smackers.

This is when I would put on a foot cream if I was going to.  Right now, I have BBW True Blue Spa Glycolic Acid Cracked Heel Treatment.  Let me tell you, I have to be careful I don't slip getting out of bed in the morning when I use this because it is still around!


I finish off with a good moisturizer on my arms and sometimes my legs.  I've been using Aveeno Skin Relief Overnight Cream most nights.  Sometimes, when the hubby isn't around, I use the “smelly” lotions and creams, like BeeKind Body Lotion.

That’s it!  Even with all of those steps, I've gotten it down to about 15 minutes (max).  The longest part of the process is taking off my makeup because I want to make sure I got it all off.  Also, depending on what I've done that day, sometimes I can leave out some steps.  If I didn't wear face makeup, for example, I might skip the face wipe and just do a little extra with the micellar water.

What's your nightly routine?

*Additional pictures courtesy of vendor websites (i.e. Ulta, BBW, Body Shop, etc)

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

The One Makeup Item I Can’t Live Without

Most people who love makeup say they can’t live without something like foundation, maybe concealer.  Some say lip products (lipstick, lip gloss, etc.).

Not me.  Nuh-uh.  Nope.
The eyeliners I carry with me every day.  I like my options :)

Me, I can’t live without my eyeliner.

I remember the day I realized it.  It was the day before my 26th birthday (yes, I’m old) and I had a baby at home.  This was before I wore makeup every day, even at work.  I looked in the mirror and realized, aghast, that I looked DEAD!

Needless to say, I rushed inside and put on some makeup.  And when I did that, I realized that the one item that made all the difference was the eyeliner. 

It made me look more awake and put together.  It made my eyes pop from behind my glasses.  It brought the whole look together for whatever I was wearing.

Over the years, I've experimented, and I keep playing with my eyeliner.  I've picked up new colors, new forms, new techniques.  There are still things that I don’t think look good on me personally (winged eyeliner), and ones that I think I may have recently figured out a way to make work (black eyeliner).  What's your favorite eyeliner look?

My home eyeliner collection
I don't really have a favorite, but I do have some preferences.  I tend to use pencils the most due to their portability and versatility.  And I BY FAR prefer automatic ones (I can just never get them to sharpen right).  I do also like gel eyeliners, but tend to only use them at home, which severely limits my use.  Do you have an eyeliner you swear by?

With everyone's crazy schedules, there's bound to be days when we don't look our best.  But you know it’s a really bad day when I don’t have my eyeliner on.

What one makeup item can you not live without?


Monday, May 11, 2015

Empties - April 2015

I know this is a little late, but here are my empties from April...


Makeup
• Benefit Roller Lash Mascara - Sample from Sephora.  I have waxed poetic about this mascara, even wrote an entire post dedicated to it.  Spoiler alert: I loved it!  This just barely started to flake about a month and a half into using the sample.  I decided to pack it in then, but I really wish I hadn’t.  I’ve been recommending this to everyone. :) Like I said before, te biggest problem I have with it is the price.  Purchase: Probably.


Face Care
• Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes - Full Size.  At this point, I’ve tried a lot of wipes, and I’ve gotten kind of picky.  These were OK, but the wipe itself was a little harsh and scratchy on my eyes.  Also, these didn’t seem to remove eye makeup as well as my beloved Neutrogena ones.  These did have a light lemony scent which, though unexpected, was pleasant.  Repurchase: No.
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream - Full Size.  This is the second jar that I have finished, and it still works very well.  However, now after seeing the dermatologist, I may not need the intense moisture formula and may try the regular version in the future.  Purchase: Maybe.
• Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream Night Cream - Rippy Packet Magazine Sample.  This moisturizer was actually rather nice, and I was surprised that I could get two uses from a sample out of a magazine.  It did have a bit of a strong scent that I can’t quite place, almost like a flowery hair spray.  Not exactly something I want to apply to my face right before bed.  Purchase: No.
• Sephora Instant Depuffing Gel - Deluxe Sample from Sephora.  This was the eye gel that would not end!  I swear, for 2 weeks I thought that I only had 1 night’s worth left, then it kept going, and going, and going...  The gel itself was OK, though I do tend to like creams better.  Purchase: No.
• Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels - Full Size.  I got two packs of these in Ipsy, and they are actually really nice.  They stick well, are easy to reposition, and last for a lot longer than the recommended 10 minutes.  After using them, my under-eye area felt firmer, like I had recently been using a mask.  Purchase: Maybe.


Skincare
• BBW Sky Violet Lily Shower Gel (scent not available online) - Full Size.  Per the hubby: Nice refreshing scent kind of like flying through the clouds without that falling to your death thing.  The bottle was real awesome and it dispenses the soap well.  The only draw back is that it is strong.  One drop of this stuff is like one and a half drop of another body wash.  Still once you get used to that it worked out real well.


Fragrance
• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black - Sample from Sephora.  See below.
• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and White - Sample card from Sephora.  I love these fragrances, especially Black, and actually own rollerballs of both.  I will continue to use any sample I get.  Purchase: Already own.
• Lady Gaga Fame Black Fluid - Sample from Walmart.  I was impressed with this fragrance.  It was a decent scent and stayed on well throughout the day.  I may have found another one to try!  Purchase: Yes.
• Marc Jacobs Daisy - Sample card from Sephora.  I have found that I really like Marc Jacobs fragrances.  Right now, I own Honey and the kiddo has Dot, so I make sure to get samples of the others whenever I can.  I do wish they lasted longer; by mid-day I can’t smell them anymore.  Purchase: Yes.
• Stella McCartney Stella - Sample card from Sephora.  Ugh!  This gagged me all day!  I’m not a huge fan of totally floral scents, and that’s what this is.  If this hadn’t been a single-use sample, it would have been a give-up.  Not for me.  Purchase: No.


Hair Care
• Harvey Prince Hello Shampoo and Conditioner - Sample Size from Birchbox.  I have really been enjoying the Hello line, and actually most things I receive from Harvey Prince.  This holds true for the Hello Shampoo and Conditioner.  The products themselves are nothing special, but the scent envelopes you and starts your day on the right note.  I’ve already bought a travel set with these, a body wash, lotion, and the fragrance.  Purchase: Already have.
• Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner - Rippy Packet samples from Ulta.  This shampoo and conditioner were OK, nothing super special.  They did seem a little extra slippery, which I figure is from the argan oil.  Purchase: No.
• Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray - Full Size.  I’d been wanting to try a sea salt spray for a while, but always thought they weren’t worth the money since they were just salt and water.  I wound up finding this one at a reasonable price an decided to give it a shot.  I love what it does to my hair, leaving it with defined curls like a gel but not crunchy at all.  Repurchase: Yes.


Other
• BBW Tiger Eye Pocket Bac (scent not available online) - Travel Size.  If you’ve read any of my previous empties, you know that I go through these like water.  This scent, however, was not one of my favorites.  It was mostly orange, but there was something else in there that just didn’t seem right.  Repurchase: product-yes, scent-no.


Giveups
• Benefit Ultraplush Lip Gloss in Sugarbomb - Sample from Birchbox.   I’m actually really sad about this one, and wouldn’t have given up on this willingly.  Unfortunately, I lost this while out one day; it just fell out of my pocket.  Purchase: Maybe.
• Dolce & Gabbana Dolce - Sample Size from either Macy’s or Sephora.  This fragrance was another one that gagged me the entire day I wore it.  Unlike Stella, however, it was more than a single-use sample.  I’m going to see if anyone else wants to use it, otherwise it’s going in the trash.  Purchase: No.
• Ulta Dual Ended Eyeliner in Brown/Black (not available online) - Full Size.  I used this for quite a while, but finally got too frustrated with it smearing.  It just never fully set.  Luckily I didn’t actually purchase this but got it free in a “goodie” bag.  Purchase: No.
• Wet ‘n Wild Travel Straight Eyeliner Brush - Full Size.  I had gotten this in one of my first brush sets at 5 Below.  However, now that I’ve used other brushes, I can truly say that this is painful to use.  So painful that I need to get rid of it.  Repurchase: No.

What have you finished up this month?  Are ou participating in something like Project Pan, or just trying to use some things up?