Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Mini-Haul

I actually got to go out shopping for a couple of hours all by myself a couple of weeks ago!! It was awesome!  I set out to buy the items I previously mentioned (and a couple more things).  Some make up - and some not.  Thought I'd just put together a haul post.  I waited a little bit to write about my haul as I wanted to have ample time to test and give a true review.

I bought both of the MAC eyeliners I set out to purchase; Buried Treasure and Rich Experience.  I love them both for different occasions.

Rich Experience is a deep brown/black and is exactly what I was looking for.  I'm a pale skinned red head, so black eyeliner tends to look too harsh on me.  I prefer to use black only for evening looks and dark smokey eye looks.  These two eyeliners are perfect for every day looks.  My eyelashes are very blonde, so I wear eyeliner every day to create a base for my lashes.  Buried Treasure is also a very dark brown/black, except is has flecks of gold in it. It's not overly sparkly, but has just enough to create a difference in these two eyeliners.

The formulas of each of these are a little different.  Rich Experience is Pro Longwear which on the MAC website states: Pro Longwear's long-lasting eye liner delivers creamy, dense colour that glides on smoothly. 12-hour waterproof formula stays put and smudge-free. Retail price is $19.50 and can be purchased here.  Buried Treasure is Powerpoint which the MAC website states: Waterproof. Longwearing. Metallic, shimmer and matte finishes. Smooth to apply. Won't transfer, smudge, or budge... Draws the line: powers your eyes. Makes its point. Lasts. Retail price is $15.00 and can be purchased here.  I don't find that either of these really last all day.  I think I have super oily lids that defy any product that touts "staying power".  I think if cosmetic companies really want to attempt to test the longevity of an eye product, they should test on me!  


My next purchase at the MAC counter at my local Nordstrom's was unexpected.  I began to swoon over a dark green eyeshadow named Greensmoke. The MAC color description says it's "tarnished olive (lustre)".  It is a deep olive with a dark grey undertone and flecks of gold shimmer.  It goes on a little greener than I thought it would, but I still love it.  It retails for $15.00 and can be purchased here.  I had to get a new MAC sharpener.  Here's a photo of the MAC mini-haul:




Next, I went to Ulta to try a few items that were on another bloggers 2012 Favorites List (and an unexpected purchase - but a bargain!).
 

Pictured above is the Rimmel Stay Matte Power, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze and a set of Stila make up brushes.

Rimmel Stay Matte Power is a great setting powder. I am using the color 003 Natural and it's just about perfect.  I have been using Make Up For Ever HD foundation and I really like how my make up looks with these two together.  Since I'm oily, there isn't a make up on the planet that will last me all day.  When I say all day, I mean from when I put my make up on at 7:00 am until I get home at 6:00 pm.  To me, that is all day.  Since mine never lasts that long, I can make it through lunch until about 2:00 before I feel like I need to touch up, so I'm content with that.  I like the way the powder goes on and it doesn't seem to settle into my wrinkles (not that I admit to having any).  The only thing I don't like about this powder is the packaging.  The container doesn't close tightly and since I wag around my make up with me where ever I go, I have a rubber band around it so that it doesn't come apart.  There is also no applicator for this, so you will need to purchase a brush, sponge or puff applicator to use with this powder.

I love the Bad to the Bronze color of Maybelline Color Tattoo.  It's a deep bronze, more on the brown side, but it has great shimmer.  It also has good staying power.  It doesn't seem to settle in the crease of my eyelid, but it does seem to fade a little throughout the day.  Take that with a grain of salt, because I have over-active oil glands.  Overall, great product and I may try another color or two of this shadow.  The only con to this cream shadow is the application.  I don't like using my fingers to apply the shadow.  I know I can use a q-tip, however I'm just not good with those as make up applicators.  Just a personal preference.

The Stila brush set was a great find.  I have been looking for a new foundation brush.  I had an Ulta rewards certificate good for an Ulta professional brush, however they were out of stock.  This particular brush set was on the Christmas clearance table and was only $16.  Yes, that's right, $16!  I was prepared to pay twice that for just a foundation brush, but for the price I thought I'd give this a try.  So far, so good.  No loose bristles (pet peeve of mine with make up brushes).  It came with a foundation brush, concealer brush, powder brush, shadow brush and eyeliner brush.  The bristles of the eyeliner brush are not as tight as I think they should be, but other than that, I am completely please with the purchase.

Next, I went on a quest to find a new bag for work.  Each day, I haul several things to work in my work bag:  make up bag, Filofax, notebook and iPad.  There is occasionally some miscellaneous papers in there as well, but the four items listed above are in the bag daily.  My old work bag was falling apart.  I've carried it daily for almost four years, so it was time for a new one.  The only requisite was that it fit all the the every day items as well as my computer occasionally.  I went to Marshall's first.  They didn't have anything I liked, but I did find a yoga mat on clearance for $7.
I don't do a lot of yoga, but I 'm ready for when I do!  LOL!!

My next stop was Ross, and that's where I found my work bag!
It's more of a teal color than it looks in the picture.  It's structured and holds plenty of stuff.  I originally picked up the black bag with white stitching, but liked the teal bag better.

Then I decided to buy myself something I've wanted for a while.  A pair of Tom's shoes.  I don't know why I have wanted them so badly, probably just because they are for a good cause and are just simple, comfy shoes.  I had a hard time finding my size and what color/style I wanted.  I finally settled with the red ones and I just love them.  They are more comfortable that I thought they were, so again, I'm very happy with my purchase.




That was plenty of damage for one day of shopping!  I would always like to shop more, but that will do!

Hopefully next week, I will review a teeth whitening treatment.  I have an appointment with a spa to do 40 minute LED teeth whitening.  It was a Groupon for three 40-minute sessions. I can't wait to see how awesome it is (fingers crossed!!).

Much Love!
L



Thursday, January 10, 2013

Lost and Found!

Ok, it's been a super-duper long time since I blogged, and I miss it.  So, I'm back (not that anyone ever reads this blog - it's just fun for me).

To catch up - we finally moved and are pretty much settled in our new home and new neighborhood.  We build our new home from the ground up and it was a long process.  The good news is that it's done, we are moved in and life is returning to normal - and we love it! 

On to beauty news!

I'm heading out today to re-purchase an eyeliner that I have worn for a couple of years.  It's MAC PowerPoint liner in Buried Treasure.  It's a super dark brown with tiny little flakes of gold.  Black eyeliner tends to look too dark on me for daytime wear, and this is just perfect.  I'm also going to consider MAC Pro Longwear Eye Liner in Rich Experience.  I saw it reviewed on makeupandbeautyblog.com (a beauty blogger I read often) - check out her review here.   It is also a very dark brown eye liner, but has no gold or shimmer.  I'm so oily on my face that I need these long wearing eyeliners just to get me to the afternoon (I typically have to reapply my make-up after lunch).

I'm also planning to purchase a few things that Kristina reviewed on her blog - PrettyShinySparkly (another blog I love to read/view).  She did a great Best of 2012 product review here so be sure to check it out. There were a few things on her review that I plan to try for myself - Maybelline Color Tattoo, Revlon Color Ready Concealer, and Rimmel Stay Matte powder.  Excited to try those (especially if I get an Ulta coupon in the paper this weekend).  I'm excited to try the Maybelline Color Tattoo, as eye color and liner tend to slide off me).

I'm realizing that I need more anti-aging products in my daily skin care routine.  The first step was to get a new skin care routine.  My skin had a very rough year.  It began to revolt against products that I've been using for some time.  I was getting a LOT of breakouts and my once always oily skin started to have dry patches.  I'll always be on the hunt for great skincare products!  Right now, I am using Mary Kay's Timewise products.  I needed to test my skins reaction to anti-aging and extra moisture. I had gotten out of the habit of using moisturizer (especially during summer months).  I'm wondering if that is the reason for my skins revolt!  I'm sure that the stress of building a house and moving had a lot to do with it as well.

I'm still a Birchbox subscriber.  I enjoy it a lot.  I haven't used much in the last couple of boxes, since I've been moving and such, but I'll try to review the January box when it arrives (got the notice that it shipped last this week, so it should be next week).