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Silk Naturals Valentine's Day Collection Haul and Swatches

February 8, 2014, 5:13 pm
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Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were purchased using a gift card from a giveaway and with my own money. I have no affiliation with Silk Naturals, and all opinions are my own.

I know I've mentioned the brand Silk Naturals quite a few times here on my blog, but I still like I haven't given the brand enough love here. I've been buying from them since the summer of 2009, and I almost always do a haul whenever they release a new collection. Sadly, whenever I start editing my pictures to do a post, my pictures just feel so flat. They never seem to do the colors justice, so I never end up posting them. I'm working on it though and hope to go back and post more pictures from my eye shadow collection in the future.

Recently, I got an email from Makeup Detox saying I won her giveaway for a $20 gift card for Silk Naturals, and I was thrilled. The fact that I got my code on the same day that Silk Naturals released their Valentine's Day collection was just the icing on the cake.

Here's a look at what I got:


This is my whole haul, minus a few skincare samples a friend asked me to pick up for her. I'll also point out here that there was a mistake with my order. The little pods on the right are concealer samples, and I had ordered full sizes. I sent a message to Silk Naturals right away letting them know. They got back to me within about 30 minutes. That was on a Monday, and I had my full size concealers in my hands by Thursday (along with three extra gift with purchase shadows). Silk Naturals has amazing customer service!

Now for a close up look at each item.

HD Cream Blush in Dollface - $4.50





Dollface is a gorgeous rosy pink with lots of gold shimmer. The formula is soft and creamy. I prefer to apply this by brushing a small duo-fiber brush over the top of the tube and then blending it on my cheeks. I haven't tested longevity yet.

HD Peach Concealers - $0.99 for a sample pod and $5.50 for a full size





I'm always on the hunt for the perfect concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes, so I was thrilled to see Karen release these concealers. I wasn't sure which shade to choose, so I chose the lightest two. As I already mentioned, I ordered the full size, but I was originally sent sample pods, which works out well since I can show was the samples look like. The full size comes in the same slimline tube as the cream blush. I've only tried each shade once, so I'll have to follow up with a review later.

Eye Shadows in Touch, Kismet, and Rendezvous - $4.50 each



From left to right: Touch, Kismet, and Rendezvous

From left to right: Touch, Kismet, and Rendezvous

From left to right: Touch, Kismet, and Rendezvous
I have a serious weakness for eye shadows from Silk Naturals, so I couldn't stop myself from picking up the three new shades they released. Touch is a pale yellow gold shimmery shade. Kismet is a medium grey with purple undertones, and Rendezvous is a deep matte purple. This trio actually works beautifully together. I was also pretty surprised by how much I like Rendezvous. Darker crease shades intimidate me, so I was a little worried. It applied nicely and blended like a dream, so it wasn't overpowering on my fair skin.

Slick Stick in La-Dee-Da - $4.50





I'm not a lipstick person, so while I've tried a few lip colors from Silk Naturals, most of the time, I pass them up. The color La-Dee-Da was just too interesting to pass up though. I liked that the color was a sheer plum shade, and the green shimmer adds an unusual touch.

Products not Pictured in Detail

If you kept track from the original picture, you'll notice that there were a few items that I haven't shown up close yet, and I'm not going to in this post (it's long enough as it is). On the far left was the weekly gift with purchase shade, so it isn't available anymore. The two jars in the middle are samples of the Medium Sleep in a Jar and the relatively new Cloud powder. I find the Sleep in a Jar a bit drying, and the Cloud powder is supposed to help retain moisture, so I want to try mixing them. Then on the far right is a mini sample of the eye shadow Mousse (they always include a sample like this in every order).

That's my haul! Did anything in particular catch your eye? Did you pick anything up yourself?

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were purchased using a gift card from a giveaway and with my own money. I have no affiliation with Silk Naturals, and all opinions are my own.
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Tarte Cream Shadow in Slate - Review and Swatch

February 12, 2014, 3:30 am
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 Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

I don't know about all of you, but I tend to fall into makeup ruts. In particular, I automatically reach for my powder products when it comes to eyes and cheeks, so I creams tend to sit unloved. It's really a shame, since I have some nice ones in my collection.

Back on Black Friday, I picked up the Tarte Balanced & Beautiful Amazonian Kit, which came with a full size of the original Flush shade of their Amazonian clay blush, a cream shadow in Slate, and an eye shadow brush. It was a fantastic deal! Slate had been ignored because it is a bit darker than I normally use for a lid color. Thankfully, I got over my hesitation and tried it the other day.

Price: $19 for the Balanced & Beautiful Amazonian Kit or for the individual shadow (I told you the kit was a fantastic deal)

Packaging



Tarte's cream shadows come in sturdy glass jars. It looks like the individually sold ones have a square base instead of the round base like this one, but the actual opening for the product looks to be the same. I personally wish the opening was a bit bigger. It's a little hard to get a normal-sized shadow brush in there and run it across the product.

I really like the fact that the sticker on top of the jar indicates the shade in the jar, making it easy to identify what color it is without looking for an actual shade name. However, the shade name is printed on the bottom of the jar, and since the jar it clear, it is also easy to identify the shade if you store your cream shadows upside down, like I tend to do.

Product


Tarte describes Slate as a shimmering silver, but I would consider it more of a grey-taupe shade that makes a really pretty soft, smoky eye. 

I really like the formula of these cream shadows. They aren't too soft or too hard. It is easy to get opaque color with it, but it also blends out well along the edges. Work quickly though. It doesn't take too much time before this shadow sets and isn't going to budge.

I did a wear test the other day over Urban Decay Primer Potion, and it didn't crease at all. I had some fading around the center of my eyelids somewhere around the 8-10 hour mark, but it really wasn't anything that was obvious until I stared at myself closely in the mirror.

Final Thoughts

 I actually like this shade a lot more than I thought I would, and the formula is fantastic. If you like the look of it yourself, I would highly suggest the Balanced & Beautiful set, since you get two extra products for the same price as buying the individual shadow.

Have you tried any of Tarte's cream shadows? What do you think? Do you tend to ignore your cream shadows or blushes like I do?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.
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CVS Haul! Physicians Formula and Milani Deals!

February 19, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclosure: All items mentioned in this post were purchase by me. All opinions are my own. 

I was really hopeful at the beginning of last week when I stopped into my CVS and saw that they had slots opened up for the new Physicians Formula products that just came out. With Physicians Formula 40% off this week and an emailed coupon for $2 off of a $10 beauty purchase, I was all set to pick something up. At the time, they only had the Nude Wear blush in Natural and the Nude Wear bronzer out, so I waited.

Later in the week, I got an email coupon for $4 off of $20. I stopped in on Thursday to see if the new stuff was out yet. When I scanned my card in store, I got a coupon for $3 off of a $10 Milani purchase and a $5 off of a $12 Physicians Formula purchase. Yes!!! Still no more new Physicians Formula items though.

When Friday rolled around, I asked one of the CVS workers when they would be stocking the new Physicians Formula items, and she said they might be getting them in over the next few days. *sigh*

I did get a little bit lucky though because my CVS had added one of the new Milani matte baked blushes to the display between my trip on Thursday and my trip on Friday.

Here's a look at my haul:


Here's the breakdown on my deal.

The Physicians Formula Nude Wear blush was originally $13.29, so the 40% off price was $7.97. The bronzer was $15.29, and the sale price was $9.17. The Milani blush was $8.79.

My total prior to coupons was $25.93. I then used the $5 off Physicians Formula, the $3 off Milani (the blush rang up for less than I was expecting, so I don't know how this coupon still worked, but it did), the $4 off of $20, and the $2 off of $10.

My final total before tax was $11.93 (with tax it was $13.33). Without any coupons or discounts, I would have paid $37.37 before tax, so I saved $25.44.

These particular deals aren't still available, but keep your eyes peeled and make sure and scan your CVS ExtraCare card every time you go in. You never know what deals might come your way.

Have you gotten any good deals lately? Have you tried any of the new Physicians Formula items? Are there any that I need to get when my CVS finally gets them in stock?

Disclosure: All items mentioned in this post were purchase by me. All opinions are my own. 
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Be a Bombshell Blush and Eye Shadows - Review and Swatches

February 26, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were prizes that I received from a blog giveaway. I was not required to write a review, and I have no affiliation with the company. All opinions are my own. 

Over the summer, I was a very lucky lady, and I won a giveaway hosted by Valentine Kisses for six full size items from the brand Be a Bombshell Cosmetics. I think I had seem this brand mentioned a couple of time before then, but I didn't know much about it. According to their website, they are cruelty-free. If you have heard something different, please let me know.

Today I've got one blush and two eye shadows that I'm finally going to review.

Price: Blush - $16; eye shadow - $14 each

Packaging




There's not really much to say about the packaging. It is pretty standard with a matte black case and a clear window on top. It's functional and isn't overly bulky. I will say that I do like their brand logo on the top. I find it cute.

Product
Be a Bombshell Blush in Raspberry Tart
The blush that I was lucky enough to win is called Raspberry Tart. It's a pretty deep pink that leans just a little coral. It has a little bit of shimmer and sheen, but it isn't excessively shimmery or shiny. It just adds a little bit of glow to the color.

Be a Bombshell eye shadow in Bright Eyes
The first eye shadow that I received was Bright Eyes. I think this shade is relatively unique in my collection. It is a gold, but it has a somewhat strong green undertone. It is a shimmery shade with some gold glitter in it, that, unfortunately, doesn't show up in my picture.

Be a Bombshell eye shadow in Starstruck
The second eye shadow shade in my prize pack was Starstruck, which is a warm leaning purple with rainbow shimmer. It plays right in to the Pantone's Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid. I even happened to pick up a paint swatch of the shade, so I could compare the two.


Both colors pulled more blue in this picture than they are in real life, but you can see that they are pretty close in color.

Swatches:

From left to right: Raspberry Tart, Bright Eyes, and Starstruck
How do these product perform?

The blush is finely milled and blends easily. It lasts well throughout the workday, but it is something that I would probably end up wanting to touch up if I had to head back out in the evening. I like the color because it is slightly outside of my pink comfort zone, but it is still pink enough that I'll still grab for it on a normal day.

The eye shadows are also finely milled. They don't feel as creamy as other shadows on the market, but it isn't something I notice on application since they apply smoothly. I mentioned earlier that Bright Eyes has glitter in it, but that glitter doesn't really transfer to the eyes or, thankfully, to the face. I'll maybe see a fleck or two, but it isn't a glitter bomb that is going to leave you covered in gold glitter. Both shadows wear well over primer (the only way I wear shadows) and last all day.

Final Thoughts

I like these products from Be a Bombshell. They are good quality. I'm glad I got to try them out. Will I buy more of the brand? Maybe. I'm a sucker for sales and deals, and I rarely buy anything at full price. I can't see myself paying $16 or $14 respectively for these products (I've never paid full price for an Urban Decay shadow either). The brand does occasionally run some awesome sales, including 50% off (they did one for Black Friday and another one for Valentine's Day). If something catches my eye, I might grab it during one of those, but my wishlist for products from other brands is so long that I don't see it happening any time soon.

Have you tried anything from Be a Bombshell? Are you a sale-fiend like me who rarely pays full price for makeup?

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were prizes that I received from a blog giveaway. I was not required to write a review, and I have no affiliation with the company. All opinions are my own. 
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NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Sex Kitten - Review and Swatches

March 5, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

Was anyone else really impressed with the size of NYX's spring collection release? It was huge! They released a ton of new products, and I have to admit being totally jealous of the people who got the NYX swag bag at LA IMATS.

Even so, I had a hard time picking out a couple of products to try when I placed a recent Ulta order. A big part of that is not being able to see them in person. Colors weren't jumping out at me like they might in the store. I did finally settle on a few items to try out, and I've had some mixed results.

First time going to talk about one of their new Hot Singles Eye Shadows in the color Sex Kitten.

Price: $4.49 on Ulta.com

Packaging


The packaging is pretty standard for a single eye shadow. It's a simple black compact with a clear window on the top to show off the shadow shade. NYX added a little bit of individuality to it with the bow at the clasp. I didn't take any close-ups of it, but it is essentially the same as the bow on the palettes they released last year.

Product



NYX Sex Kitten swatched on bare skin

NYX's website describes Sex Kitten as a peachy pink shimmer, which is pretty accurate. I see a lot more peach than pink, and the shimmer is gold. This shadow would look stunning on blue eyes. My eyes are a mix of blue and green, and I could definitely see the blue popping out when I wore it. I've only done online comparisons, but the shade looks similar to MAC's Jest or Makeup Geek's Cinderella.

Both the pigmentation and texture of this shadow are really nice. It applied smoothly and evenly and wore all day over primer.

Final Thoughts

This shadow is a win for me. I don't think there's anything that I dislike about it. If you've got blue eyes, check it out the next time you see a NYX display. I'll definitely be checking out other colors in the line the next time I get to Ulta.

Have you tried any of NYX's new Hot Singles Eye Shadows? What other colors should I check out?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 
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Surprise Love! Physicians Formula Nude Wear Blush in Natural - Review and Swatches

March 12, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I usually like products from Physicians Formula, and when there is a good sale on the brand at CVS, I usually can't resist picking something up. It's rare for me to discover a product from them that I'm really excited about though.

I've already posted about picking up a blush and bronzer from their new Nude Wear line when I was able to get them for a fantastic price.

Price: $12.95 on Physicians Formula's website; I got mine for much cheaper at CVS with a sale and coupons.

Packaging



Just like pretty much everyone else out there who buys Physicians Formula, I have a love-hate relationship with their packaging. Their packaging is usually really cute, and this line is no exception. I love how girly it is with the pale pink and the metallic bow.

Just like every other Physicians Formula powder product though, the packaging is really bulky so they can include their terrible, scratchy brush. I would so much rather they skipped the brush (and even the mirror) and made the packaging half the thickness. I don't expect that to happen though, and it is just something that has to be expected with the brand.

Product






A shimmery over-spray is another one of Physicians Formula's quirks, so if you aren't familiar with the brand and are hoping that shimmer runs throughout, you are out of luck. If you don't like the shimmer, don't worry. It is gone after one use.

The four tones of the Nude Wear Blush in Natural combine to make a soft pink with just a little bit of sheen. It feels smooth to the touch and blends easily onto the skin.

It honestly doesn't look like anything special, so what makes me love it? There are two things. The first is that the color is practically impossible for me to over-apply, which is a near miracle on my fair skin. The second is that it lasts all day on me. I'm talking 12+ hour wear time here. Those two things combined is probably going to make this a blush I'll reach for regularly.

Final Thoughts

I'm obviously really happy that I purchased this blush. If you have fair to light skin and are looking for and easy-to-apply blush, keep an eye out for sales and give this one a go. I have a feeling this shade might start to look a little bit ashy on medium to dark skintones, but that is obviously just a guess on my part.

Have you tried any products from the Nude Wear line? Have you had any products that surprised you with how much you like them?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 
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Beauty and Babbling at Home - Honest Dishwasher Pods

March 19, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. This post contains my affiliate link, which earns me a $20 credit if someone uses it and makes a purchase. All opinions are honest and completely my own. 

I haven't done a Beauty and Babbling at Home post since my initial one. I think it's about time for another one, don't you?

I don't mention my journey to go cruelty-free very often, so if you are new to my blog, you might not know about this goal. Most of my makeup was already cruelty-free, so I'm doing pretty well there. Most of what isn't is currently in my regular rotation to be used up, listed in my blog sale, or in a bin waiting to be listed on my blog sale.

I've had a harder time with home products and some toiletries, but I'm making progress.

One company that has been really helpful though is The Honest Company (referral link). The company was co-founded by Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan, an author and a collaborator with WebMD. Their goal was to create products that were eco-friendly, non-toxic, and affordable. The more I read about this company, the more I like it. For example, while searching their site for information about them to add to this post, they have earned Gold status as a Green America Certified Business. I had no idea what this was, but you can check out everything that the company has to do in order to receive this certification here. I'm impressed!

One of my favorite Honest products so far is their dishwasher pods.


Price: $10.95 for a pack of 32. If you choose to subscribe to their bundle service, it is cheaper (more on that later).

Ingredients: Sodium Carbonate (Natural Soda Ash), Sodium Citrate (Citrus Derived), Sodium Metasilicate, Sodium Percarbonate (Solid Form Of Hydrogen Peroxide Bonded With Natural Soda Ash), Sodium Sulfate (Mineral), Crystalline Silica (Mineral), Non-Ionic Ethoxylate (Biodegradable Cleaner), Sodium Polyaspartate (Mineral), Sodium Iminodisuccinate (Biodegradable Water Softener), Alpha-Amylase & Protease Enzymes (Organic Enzyme Blend), Polyvinyl Alcohol (Biodegradable, Water-Soluble Film)

Performance: These are fantastic! I love the the convenience of the pods compared with a loose powder or gel, and they work as well, if not better, than the brands I used to buy. I'm pretty lazy about rinsing dishes before sticking them in the dishwasher. I'll usually make sure there aren't chunks of food left on dishes and do a quick rinse, but I don't scrub everything off before they go in the dishwasher. The vast majority of the time, all of my dishes come out completely clean. The items that don't are ones that really did need a good scrubbing before going in, but I was too lazy to bother. :-) I also have a couple of cookie sheets that I use regularly, and these pods have gotten rid of all the build-up and discoloration that tends to happen with cookie sheets. 

My only minor issue that I've had with these occurred recently. I just got a new bundle shipment in, and it included two bags of these pods. I haven't actually opened the bags yet, but there was a lot of loose powder in the bag, so I could tell that several pods had broken (I've never had that happen before, and I've been getting these since the summer). I shot the company a message on Facebook and included pictures. In less than a week, I had a new bag shipped to me to make up for the broken pods. No hassle. No fuss. The company also made a point of asking for the batch number of the bags I received so they could investigate the problem. 

Bundle Subscription Information

When I was first introduced to The Honest Company (referral link) and became interested in the brand, I signed up to get their I signed up to get their Essentials Bundle trial kit, which includes trial sizes of their shampoo + body wash, face + body lotion, laundry detergent, healing balm, and hand soap. I only had to pay $5.95 shipping and handling. 

This signed up up for their Essential Bundle service. The standard setup for this service is receiving 5 full-size products every month for $35.95 plus $5.95 shipping and handling. Each individual can choose which products they receive, and it can be changed with each shipment. 

These bundles can be customized even further. The Honest Company allows up to 3 add-on products in each bundle at a 25% discount. If the bundle total after add-on items is over $50, the bundle ships for free. Also, even though the initial setup has bundles shipping ever 4 weeks, the shipping frequency can be changed to every 8 weeks. If even that is too often, there is a calendar that allows for personal ship date selection. For example, I just received a bundle, and I have enough product to last me a while, so I adjusted my next ship date to the end of May. If it gets close to that time, and I still have product to get through, I can adjust the date again to push it back. 

When constructing my bundles, I usually end up doing a lot of mental math, and even sometimes scribbling some figures on paper. The bundle is a really good deal, but only if I pick up some of their more expensive products. A lot of them are around the $6 mark, which isn't really a deal if a bundle is only made up of those items. They, unfortunately, don't have anything to indicate whether your bundle has reached the $50 threshold for free shipping, so I end up doing some figuring to make sure I've reached that amount. 

One of the other downsides to the bundling program is that there is no way to cancel a bundle except for calling the company directly. I would prefer having the option to cancel online, but since I plan on continuing with the service for the foreseeable future, this isn't really a big deal for me. 

Final Thoughts

These dishwasher pods work really well for me. With my current bundle and the extra bag sent to make up for the broken pods, I have 5-6 bags of these stashed in my kitchen, and I'm happy to have them. I love the fact that I'm supporting an eco-friendly, cruelty-free company that does its best to provide products without a lot of nasty chemicals. I haven't loved all of their products that I've tried, but I have liked the majority of them. 

Do you have any favorite eco-friendly, cruelty-free household products? Have you tried anything from The Honest Company? 

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. This post contains my affiliate link, which earns me a $20 credit if someone uses it and makes a purchase. All opinions are honest and completely my own. 
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Finished It!!! Volume 12

March 26, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me except the Vaseline lotion, which was sent in an Influenster box, and the Tata Harper serum, which was part of a giveaway prize. All opinions are my own.

I'm really excited about this empties post for a reason that might seem a little strange. I recently found out where there is a nearby recycling drop-off, so I can actually recycle most of the empty containers I'm about to show you. Yay!

I'm also excited about the number of products I have to show you, especially lotions. For the majority of January, I was applying lotion to my arms and legs twice a day. I've since gotten a little lazy and only apply lotion once a day, but I'm still making progress working through my stash.


DermOrganic Daily Hydrating Conditioner - I really loved this conditioner. It made my hair feel really soft and moisturized. It's a little bit pricey (I found this bottle at TJ Maxx for $20), so I'm not replacing it right away, but I do plan on picking it up again in the future.


Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner - I happened upon the 50% more free bottle around the holidays, so I went ahead and picked it up. I liked this conditioner too, and the Organix line is a great cruelty-free option from the drugstore.

RenPure Solutions Sweet Pomegranate Cleansing Conditioner - I got out of the habit of using a cleansing conditioner a while back, and honestly, this bottle got lost in my stash of hair stuff. I've mentioned before that I like cleansing conditioners when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to do two steps. This is another product that I'll probably purchase again at some point, but I'm not running out to buy it now.

got2be Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm Mini Size - I bought this for a long time because I thought it was cruelty-free. I've since seen got2b on a list of brands to avoid. Thankfully, I rarely use heat on my hair anymore, so it isn't a huge loss.



Nourish Organic Organic Hand Wash in Wild Berries, Almond Vanilla (2 - I'm reusing one of the bottles), and Fresh Fig - I made a big Nourish Organic order when they did a 50% off Black Friday sale. I love the principles of the company, and the soap itself was good. I probably wouldn't repurchase the hand wash though because I like using Dr. Bronner's soap even more, and it is less expensive.


Studio 35  Beauty Pure Honey Body Lotion - I made a point when I started focusing on using up lotions to use up ones that I knew weren't cruelty-free or ones that I wasn't sure about, and this one falls into that category. It was a cheap drugstore lotion too, so it wasn't anything special.

Scentsations by Bodysource Berry Burst Body Lotion - I don't know the status of this company either, and I didn't care for the lotion anyway. It was really runny and didn't seem to do much for my skin.

Vaseline Spray & go Moisturizer in Total Moisture - I like the concept of this lotion, but I didn't love it. This was part of an Influenster box I received last year. Vaseline isn't cruelty-free, so I wouldn't purchase it myself.

Paula's Choice Resist Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA - I have come to the conclusion that I have keratosis pilaris because I constantly have small bumps on my legs, and I have started getting them on the backs of my arms as well. I bought this to try and help. It didn't work miracles for me, but nothing has so far. I might buy it again in the future.

Wei East China Herbal Hand & Body Perfection - I bought this a long time ago because there was an awesome deal where this tube only cost a couple of dollars. I don't know the status of the brand and didn't like the lotion enough to check.


Bath & Body Works Pomegranate Citrus Body Lotion - I'm a sucker for Bath & Body Works scents and sales. This was a limited edition scent, and while I liked it, I wouldn't repurchase it if it was released again.

Essence of Beauty Citrus Coconut Body Lotion - I got this for free a while back with a CVS coupon. The lotion itself wasn't great, and I don't know the cruelty-free status of the brand.

True Blue Mini Shea Cashmere Hand Cream - The scent of this is beautiful and cozy smelling (don't ask me how it smells cozy though). I'm not running out to repurchase it, but I would definitely pick it up again if I happened to find it for a really good price.

Honest Face & Body Lotion - This is my second mini tube of this lotion that I've finished. It was a decent product, but I don't plan on repurchasing.

Luxury Lane Soap Nourishing Body Lotion in Vanilla Oak - This is a lotion that I would consider repurchasing once I work my way through my stash. I like the formula, and I love the scent.

Bath & Body Works Apple Blossom Citrus Body Lotion - Another limited edition scent that I couldn't resist trying. I wouldn't repurchase.



Bath & Body Works Cherry Vanilla Body Wash - I really liked the scent, and I like Bath & Body Works' body wash formula. I can't get this scent anymore, but I will repurchase other scents in the future.

Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Wash & Foam Bath - This came in the Black Friday bonus bag. I wouldn't have picked out the scent myself, but I liked it. I didn't like it enough to repurchase, but I would use it again if it came in another set.


Heritage Store Rosewater - I like using a rosewater spray after I've applied my makeup to help get rid of the powdery look that it can sometimes get. This is my second bottle from this brand. I have a couple of other facial sprays to test and use first, but I might repurchase this one in the future.

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 - I like the brand Paula's Choice, but I really didn't like this moisturizer. The consistency was really runny, similar to what a traditional sunscreen feels like, and it felt gritty when I applied it. I won't repurchase.

Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum - Just like a couple of other Tata Harper products that have ended up in my empties, this was part of a giveaway prize. The brand is too expensive for me to consider buying, but it was fun to try, and I like the principles behind the company.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer - This came in a Sephora set that I bought over a year ago. It's a really nice primer, but it isn't amazing enough for me to justify buying a full size, which is quite pricey.


Silk Naturals Candie Blush Sample - Candie is a light shimmery pink blush. The color was pretty, but I don't wear my loose blushes enough for me to choose to purchase a full size.

Silk Naturals Translucent Cloud Finishing Powder Sample - I bought this to mix in with my beloved Sleep in a Jar Light Peach. It is supposed to help skin retain moisture, and I find Sleep in a Jar to be drying. I'm still testing my mix, but the sample jar is in my empties because the jar itself has been emptied.

Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar Medium Peach Sample - I originally just planned on mixing the Cloud Powder with the Medium Peach, assuming that the mix would be light enough for me to use. However, the Cloud Powder didn't lighten the Medium Peach as much as I expected. They both ended up mixed in with my Light Peach.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Eye Reviver Duo - Just like a lot of my beauty purchases, this item got purchased because it was on sale. At first, having the two sides, one with a roller ball and the other with a doe-foot applicator, seemed fun. Later it just seemed annoying. Because of the two products in one gimmick, there's also less product overall. I think this product was actually discontinued, but I wouldn't repurchase it anyway.

Stila Lip Glaze Mini in Splendor - Stila, sadly, is no longer cruelty-free because the brand has started selling in China. I made a point to use this up to get it out of my collection. I didn't particularly care for the applicator or the formula, so it isn't a huge loss.

Chapstick Lip Balm in Cake Batter - I'm a sucker for cake, vanilla, and sweet scents, so I was weak and purchased this balm along with a red velvet one back in the fall, even though Chapstick isn't cruelty-free. I didn't love the formula, and the scent was just okay, so I'm glad to have this one gone and the other one about to head out the door too.

Hard Candy Concealer Pencil (comes with the Glam-o-flage Concealer) - I pitched my Glam-o-flage a long time ago, and this concealer pencil just kept hanging around. I used it up by using it to clean up my lip line. It wasn't special, and I didn't like the Glam-o-flage enough to repurchase.

That's all of my empties for the time being. Now I get to go sort them out for recycling.

Have you finished anything recently?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me except the Vaseline lotion, which was sent in an Influenster box, and the Tata Harper serum, which was part of a giveaway prize. All opinions are my own.
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NYX Baked Shadow in Nebula - Review and Swatches

April 2, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

I don't know about all of you, but I'm really glad that spring is finally deciding to show itself. I've been prepping for the season by doing some clothing shopping recently. I'm also eagerly watching the yard to see flowers starting to pop out of the ground.

Today I'm going to be reviewing a shade from the new NYX baked shadow line.

Price: $5.99; NYX products are regularly on sale, so watch out for a good deal.

Packaging





NYX has gradually been creating a theme with their eye shadow packaging. Most, if not all, of their shadow packaging now has this cute bow over the clasp. It's a nice touch. The configuration of the clear panels also adds some interest to an otherwise basic shadow compact. Probably the only thing I would have changed is shaving off a bit of the extra bulk.

Product



Left to right: swatched dry and swatched wet

I wish I could say that I loved this shadow because I wanted to love it, but I was really disappointed.

My first disappointment was with the color. I purchased this online off Ulta.com, and I thought the color I was getting was going to be much lighter than it was when it arrived. I don't really blame that on the shadow. Whenever I buy something online without seeing it in person first or seeing online swatches, I know I'm taking a chance.

The shadow itself performed terribly on me. I tested it with my regular primer applied dry, my regular primer applied wet, with my regular primer and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy, and with primer and Jordana's Made-to-Last Shadow pencil. With just primer, the shadow had practically disappeared after just a couple of hours. My other attempts only helped marginally.

Final Thoughts

Clearly, I wasn't happy with this particular shadow. I've only tried this one, so I can't say if the others perform better. I won't be purchasing any more of to find out. I've only seen one other review of these, and it was positive, so these might work better for someone else.

Have you tried any of NYX's baked shadows? What did you think? I would love to hear other opinions on these!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.
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Jane Blush in Berry Bouquet - Review and Swatches

April 9, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

I'm spending a Sunday afternoon trying to get some blog posts scheduled while watching a Harry Potter marathon on TV. Does anyone else watch movies on TV that they already own? It seems silly to me, but I do it anyway. Most of the time I do it when I'm just looking for something to have on as background noise.

I've been enjoying trying out products from the relaunched brand Jane Cosmetics. I haven't tried a lot yet, but I have other items on my wishlist for the next time I'm shopping at Ulta and  they are on sale.

One of the products I've been testing out is their Multi-Colored Cheek Powder in Berry Bouquet.

Price: $12

Packaging



The compact is a basic black with a clear window. It is serviceable without a lot of bulk or frills, which I like. When purchased, it comes with a cardboard band with bright and colorful pictures, but that obviously gets thrown away. The flower pattern on the product itself is eye-catching and pretty.

Product



This berry shade is exactly that, a bright berry color with a matte finish. The swatch above is all of the colors mixed together. After some experimenting, I have decided that I prefer avoiding the deepest shade in the blush when I use it. The difference doesn't show up very much when I swatch it, but I notice the difference more on my cheeks. The powder feels smooth and not overly dry and blends nicely on the skin. It lasts well on my skin, making it through a workday without problem.

Final Thoughts 

I like this blush, but at the same time, it doesn't wow me either. It's a little pricey for a drugstore brand as well. I wouldn't have purchased it at regular price; I picked it up on sale. There are only two other colors in the range, and the colors aren't of interest to me, so I won't be picking those up.

Have you tried the new Jane blushes or other products in the range?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.
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Cruelty-Free Update

April 16, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. I am including my referral link for Vitacost and The Honest Company.

I had to go back and look, and it's been about six months since I did my post talking about going cruelty-free. I thought it would be a good time to post an update on my progress.

Cosmetics

I had started going cruelty-free a while before I actually mentioned it on my blog, so there really wasn't much of a transition needed when it came to my makeup. The vast majority of my makeup was already cruelty-free, and a lot of what wasn't was already added to my blog sale.

Since then, my next step was to pull out the rest of my items that weren't cruelty-free. I've got quite a few of them in my container of products I'm trying to use it. I use a Stila Smudgestick liner every day to try and finish them. I have to point out that it's really annoying that these liners can't be rolled back down. I have no way of knowing how close to being gone they are. I have this feeling that one day I'm going to line one eye and discover that the product is gone before I line the other one.

Bath and Body

Like with my cosmetics, most of my bath and body products were already cruelty-free. I believe all of my shower gels were already cruelty-free when I made my announcement. The same thing is true of shampoo and conditioners, barring a bunch of samples that I still have and occasionally grab for traveling. Skincare was almost there when it comes to main products. One of my acne treatments is still by Neutrogena because I had stocked up a long time ago, buying something like four tubes. I'm on my last one. Just like with shampoos and conditioners, I also have a stash of samples that I keep around.

When I started working on my stash of lotion in January, I went through and pulled out all of the lotions from brands that I wasn't sure about or knew wasn't cruelty-free. At this point, all of those are gone.

My next challenge to tackle is hair dye. I had several boxes that I needed to use up, but they are finally gone. I recently purchased a box of Herbatint hair dye from Vitacost (referral link). I haven't tried it yet, so I don't know if it is a brand that I'll stick with. I hope it works well for me because most of the cruelty-free hair dyes that I've seen are henna based, and I would prefer to avoid that route, since using henna means I can't go back to regular dyes until it has completely grown out.

Deodorant is another one of my trouble areas. Most cruelty-free options are also natural, which haven't worked for me so far. I've read somewhere that switching to natural deodorants requires a detox period of about two weeks before they become effective. I'm not willing to do that when I'm working. A detox attempt might happen this summer if I can find a stretch of time when I'm not going to be terrified of smelling terribly in public. I've also got a lot of deodorants that I need to work my way through before I try any others.

Home Products

This is the area where I've been making progress a lot more slowly. I've already done a post on The Honest Company (referral link) dishwasher pods, which I love. Several of their other products have also made it into my regular routine. I didn't particularly like their dish soap, so I'm testing out a different one now. Dish soap is a crucial product for me. I have always used Dawn dish soap, and I use it for more than just dishes. I use it to mix up my own shower cleaner and even use it in laundry to boost my regular detergent when I feel it is needed.

I don't think my home products will ever be completely cruelty-free. I don't have access to much of it locally, and I'm not willing to sacrifice quality either. I'll continue to experiment and replace what I can, but I'm definitely making baby steps in this area.

Are you going cruelty-free? What trouble areas have you had? If you aren't going cruelty-free, that's okay too. I'd love to know what other steps you might be taking to improve yourself or the world (recycling, exercising, eating better, etc)?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. I included my referral links for Vitacost and The Honest Company.
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bareMinerals Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Topcoat - Review

April 23, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I have a love/hate relationship with mascara. I love it because it makes my blonde eyelashes visible, but I hate it because I have so many issues with mascara smudging and flaking. It drives me crazy. I can find a mascara that I like, but once I've gotten a little bit over-heated, I end up with mascara on my browbone. That's not a pretty look. Since I also purchase a lot of value sets, I tend to have a lot of non-waterproof mascaras in my stash. 

In the search for a solution to my dilemma, I decided to try out the bareMinerals Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Topcoat. 

Price: $12

Packaging




There's not really much to talk about here. It's a pretty standard mascara tube. The brush itself is a skinny brush with rubber bristles. I'm not a fan of really large brushes anyway, and for this product in particular, I think the small brush was a good idea (more on that later). 

Product


The product itself is a clear gel that gets applied over mascara. It doesn't make my lashes clump together, and it does make my mascara waterproof. I haven't had any issues with smudges on my browbone since I started using it with a non-waterproof mascara. For reference, I'm currently using a mini tube of bareMinerals Lash Domination mascara. 

The only minor issue I've had with this product was that I just applied it like I apply my mascara, meaning I brushed it on the bottom of my top lashes. Since then, I start by brushing it over the top of my top lashes first and then brushing it over the bottom. If I don't do that, I still have smudges on my browbone. I do the top first because it pushes my lashes down some. Doing the bottom of my lashes second pushes them back up. 

Final Thoughts

This is a specialty product that isn't really necessary for most people. If someone needs a waterproof mascara, she typically just buy one that is already waterproof instead of buying an extra product and adding an extra step to her routine. However, it is a fantastic product for those who need it. It is making it possible for me to use non-waterproof mascaras in my collection that I would have issues using otherwise. I could see this being a popular product for brides who have a favorite mascara that doesn't come in a waterproof formula. 

I hope to eventually find a Holy Grail waterproof mascara. I would love it if bareMinerals actually made their Lash Domination mascara in a waterproof formula. In the meantime, I'll occasionally pick this up in order to use my backlog of mascaras from value kits.

Would you pick up a waterproof topcoat for mascara? Why would you use  it? 

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 
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Halo Razor - Cruelty-free Razor Option

April 30, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Today's post is going to be short and sweet.

In my cruelty-free journey, I'm glad to say that I've found a replacement for my Gillette Venus razors. My fiance looked it me funny when he saw me writing this post because he didn't understand how a razor could be tested on animals. His actual question was, "Do they shave animals?" I explained to him that companies that make razors often make a lot of other products, which can be tested on animals.


The Halo 5-blade razor by the brand Personna is a cruelty-free razor that, for me, works just as well as my old Venus razor did. I'm also happy to say that it is similar in price as well, so I'm not spending more money to buy it.

The package with the full razor (which includes two blades) and the 4-cartridge refill cost me just under $14 on Amazon.com.

My only complaints are minor ones. The razor itself came with a large plastic holder for storage in the shower, and I never use those. It sat around for a few weeks until I finally just threw it in the recycling. I'm sure some people like when razors come with their own holder. I'm just not one of them. My other complaint is that I can only seem to find this razor on Amazon, and my initial order was delayed, so it took much longer to arrive than I expected. I'll just have to remember to order replacement cartridges well before I would actually need them. Since I know I like them, I'll also stock up the next time I order and pick up two packs of replacement cartridges at one time.

What is your favorite razor? If your razor comes with a holder, do you use it?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 
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Products I Want to Use Up - 2014 - Update

May 7, 2014, 3:30 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I've been meaning to do an update on the list of products I've been trying to use up, and I finally got around to taking the pictures for it. If you want to see my original post, you can find it here.

Here's what I've finished:

  • Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer
  • Hard Candy Concealer Pencil
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in CIA
  • ELF shadow from the Day to Night Palette (white with gold shimmer)
  • Stila Lip Glaze in Splendor
  • Chapstick Lip Balm in Cake Batter
  • Silk Naturals blush sample in Candie 
  • Silk Naturals blush sample in Tart Light
  • Stila Smudge Stick in Anglefish
I did a lot better than I thought. I had forgotten how many items I actually finished since I tend to add a new product when something gets finished. 

Now for the things that I'm still working on and the new things that I've added to my list.


Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Balancing Foundation in Fair - It's hard to tell because of the opaque tube, but I've made a lot of progress on this foundation. It's the one I've been using every day. I'm guessing I have less than a month left in the tube.

Nars Sheer Matte Foundation in Siberia - Since I've been using the Tarte foundation, I haven't really made progress on this one.

bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer - This is my last foundation primer sample, so I want to use it up before starting in on my full size primers.


Benefit Erase Paste in Fair - I'm really excited to say that I've hit the bottom of the jar on this one. It'll probably still last for quite a while, but I'm still happy to see some progress.

Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer - This is so close to gone. After I took this picture, I broke up what was left and put it in an empty loose minerals jar. It's making it easier to get to the last of the product.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Concealer in Fair - I'd like to get this concealer out of my collection because it separates in the tube. I was honestly quite disappointed with this concealer. I end up squeezing some into a clean jar so I can use a brush to mix it together.

Too Faced Wrinkle Injection Extreme Wrinkle Filler - I haven't made as much progress with this as I should. I still forget to use it more often than not.


Milani eye shadow in French Vanilla (largest pan) - The amount of pan showing on this has gotten a lot bigger. It's still going to take a long time to finish, but I don't mind using it, so that doesn't bother me.

Everyday Minerals eye shadow in Funnel Cake (darker brown) - There's a little more pan showing, but I tend to forget to use this one when I grab a palette with a crease color in it.

Silk Naturals eye shadow in Shantung (smallest pan) - This is an old gift with purchase shade. I picked it because it is such a small pan. I'm hoping it won't take too long to finish.

Everyday Minerals eye shadow in Driftwood (lighter brown) - I haven't really made any visible progress with this shadow.

Everyday Minerals eye shadow mix of Good China and Queen Anne's Lace - I pulled this shadow out because it is an easy lid shade. There's a speck of pan showing.


Tarte fRxtion Lip Scrub and Balm - This is getting to the point where it is a little annoying. I already had a bit of the exfoliator break off, which is something I expected. I don't think this will stay usable for much longer before the bulk of it breaks off.



Sassy blush sample in Cosmopolitan and Silk Naturals Mineral Glow in Crinoline - In hindsight, these weren't the best choices for the spring and summer season. I'm gravitating towards brighter blushes at the moment.  These would take me a while to finish anyway, so we'll see how it goes.


Tarte double-ended lip liner - I keep forgetting to use this before I run out the door in the morning, so my progress has been minimal.

Stila eye liners in Stargazer, Oscar Fish, Tetra, and Moray - Oscar Fish (the brown one) is actually gone. I finished it between the time that I took these pictures and the time I got around to writing this post. These drive me crazy because I can't check to see how much is left in them. They don't roll back down once they are scrolled up.

Urban Decay 24/7 eye liners in Whiskey and Rockstar - I've been focusing on the Stila liners, so I haven't really made any progress with these.



Stila Smudge Crayon mini in Smoke - I added this to my list, tried it once, and I might end up abandoning it. The shade is a bit too dark for me to regularly use as a shadow base, but I think it is too light to use as a liner. We'll see.

Stila Smudge Pot in Kitten - This is ambitious. I haven't even made a dent in this yet. The color is much easier than Smoke to use as a shadow base.

bareMinerals Prime Time Eye Shadow Primer sample - I'm liking this eye shadow primer. I've maybe got a week or two left of it before I go back to my standard Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Sassy eye shadow in Embellish - This is a small eye shadow sample that I've already made a bit of a dent in, so I'd like to finish it off. Like the Stila Smudge Crayon, it's a bit darker than what I normally wear during that day, so I'll be mixing it with other colors to make it more wearable for me.


Jordana LipShine in Banana Cream and Sugar Cookie - I love the scent of these, and I like the feel of them too. Sadly, the colors just aren't flattering on my lips. I'm going to try and use them up on the weekends and when I'm just hanging out around the house.


ELF Studio Translucent Mattifying Powder - I bought this a long time ago thinking I would use it for touch-ups during the day. I haven't been using it, so I pulled it out of my purse to use in the morning when I'm getting ready. I scraped this powder out of the pan after this picture so I could mix it with the other powders that I have and like more. 

I'm pretty proud of what I've finished and the progress I've made on the items that I haven't finished yet. I hope to keep the momentum going throughout the rest of this year. 

Are you trying to finish any products? 


Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 
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Update - Taking a Break

May 30, 2014, 10:16 pm
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I've been putting off this blog post because I wasn't quite sure what to write. I apologize for that fact that it's probably going to sound really vague and cryptic, but I try to limit how much personal information I put on here, so I'm not going to give a lot of details. 

Three weeks ago, my life as I have known it was completely shattered. I'm going through massive, stressful life changes that I didn't want or expect. I'm preparing to move and facing a lot of uncertainty about what my future holds. 

With everything going on, I'm going to have to take a break from this blog. That makes me sad, but it can't be helped right now. I don't know when I'll be back because I don't know when my life will settle back down to something that feels "normal," but I do plan on blogging again when I can. 

Thanks for reading. I hope you stick around even though it will be quiet here for a while. 
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I'm Back (I Think) - Still Working on Finishing Products

July 12, 2015, 2:21 pm
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Disclaimer: All of the products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Well...I'm going to try and start blogging again. I doubt I will be very consistent because life still feels really crazy sometimes. We'll see how things go. I'm not going to give a personal update yet explaining where I've been the past year, but maybe I will eventually. The short of it is that life keeps moving forward, and I keep moving with it.

Even though things have been silent here over the past year, I've still been working on my project to use up some of the products in my collection. That's where I've decided to pick things up again.

Just as a reminder, part of the reason for trying to use up some of these products is that they are by brands that aren't cruelty-free, and I'm trying to get those products out of my collection without just throwing them away. If the brand is cruelty-free, odds are pretty good I chose the product because it was a smaller size or already had a decent dent in it. I don't want to overwhelm myself with what I'm trying to finish.

Here's a current look at what I'm trying to finish up and move out of my collection.


Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation in 0.5 (or NYX Invincible Fullest Coverage Foundation in Ivory) - I've been working steadily on the Urban Decay foundation, but lately, I haven't been liking the look of it very much, so I will probably do some alternating between the two. As you can see, I've got a good dip in both of them, so I hope to see one of them gone within the next couple of months.


Tarte BB Tinted Undereye Corrector in Fair to Light - I've got a pretty good stock of correctors (including two more of these), so this was just the next one in the lineup to work on finishing.


Urban Decay Primer Potion Mini - This primer hasn't been working all that well for me lately. It's really frustrating. Thankfully, with the next product, my shadow still lasts all day.


Stila Smudge Pot in Kitten - Stila isn't a cruelty-free brand, which is why I'm specifically trying to use up this product. Like I mentioned above, this really does help my eye shadow last longer. Because of the heavy shimmer, I stick up just apply it to the lid and keep it off my crease and browbone. That weird dent in the middle was made with a cotton swab because I wanted to see how close I was to the bottom of the jar. Sadly, I'm not nearly as close as I thought.


Lorac Pro Palette - Okay...you are probably looking at this page thinking I'm nuts right now have a whole palette listed. I'll admit, it is quite the undertaking. This year, I stumbled across Amber F on YouTube, who does a Pan that Palette Challenge. Last year, she panned the Naked Palette (yes, the entire Naked Palette). This year, she is panning the Lorac Pro Palette. I personally chose the Lorac Pro Palette because Lorac isn't cruelty-free. Do I expect to finish this entire palette by the end of the year? Absolutely not. My goal is to finish off as many of the colors as I can. Once I've finished off quite a few of them, I'll depot the rest and stick them in a Z Palette. It's a little hard to see in this picture, but I've finished off Cream. I also finished off Light Bronze (there was only one use left when I took the picture). I've got a lot of pan showing on White, and I've got good dips going in Nude and Champagne. I just finished the crease shade that I was working on (that was an individual pan), so I'll be starting to work on Taupe now too.


Lorac Baked Matte Satin Eye Shadow in Posh - This is another Lorac product that I'm trying to use up since the brand isn't cruelty free. The dome is basically gone, and you can see that I've got some pan showing. Since this is the shade I use on my browbone every day, I'm hoping to see it gone soon.


Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Zero and Ransom (Minis) - I chose a couple of mini pencils since they will be easier to work through the full-sizes. They also work well with eye shadows I'm trying to use up. I've been topping Ransom with Deep Purple from the Lorac Pro Palette. The two together balance each other out and make a bright purple that isn't too bright for daily wear. Zero is working well with a shadow I have below. 


Silk Naturals Shantung Eye Shadow - This was a gift with purchase shadow from Silk Naturals a long time ago. I think I even have a second one. I don't necessarily want this out of my collection, but it doesn't exactly do any good just sitting in a palette. It's a subtle highlight shade that I use in my inner corner occasionally. I need to try and remember to use it more often.


Nars Laguna Bronzer Mini - This was one of those products I chose to work on finishing off because it was a mini size, making it more manageable to try and finish. 


Silk Naturals Guava Blush Sample - I've finished off several Silk Naturals blush samples this year, and this is just another one to finish off. The color is nice for the summer, which is why I chose it over some of the other samples I have left.

Darling Girl Torrid Eye Shadow - I have had this sample since Darling Girl was just a fledgling indie brand. It's just another sample I chose to work on, particularly because the teal color is nice for the summer. I've been layering it on top of UD's Zero to make it a little deeper. 


DKNY Be Delicious Perfume Duo - I have a lot of perfumes (mostly rollerballs) that aren't cruelty free. The Be Delicious scent is a nice one for this time of year, so I chose to work on it. Obviously, I've been working on the original scent side, but I'll move on to the other one next. 

Well....those are my products that I'm currently working on finishing up. Obviously, some seem pretty manageable while others are much more ambitious. 

Are you working on using up any products? 

Disclaimer: All of the products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

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Makeup Inventory - Face Products

July 18, 2015, 6:26 pm
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Since I've been working on finishing off products, I wanted to share my makeup inventory of face products. I'm pretty pleased with the amounts I have in these categories, but I also want to work on narrowing it down farther. I would love to have my face products narrowed down to a small set of holy grail items.

Here's a look at what I currently have as well as my goals for the future. 


Primers 

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer in Fair (x2) - I have two of these because of a QVC TSV. One has been started already, and the other one hasn't been opened yet.

Too Faced Primed and Poreless - You might be able to see that  I've made pretty good progress with this primer. It's the one that I'm currently rotating with the Tarte one above.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost - I don't know if this is technically a primer, but it feels like one, and it does say that it should be applied after moisturizer and is a perfect base for makeup, so I've got it in this category.

Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer in Fair (x2) - This is another multiple thanks to QVC. Sadly, the shade is a bit too dark for me. I need to work on using these more to move them out of my collection.

Total number of primers: 6
Ideal number of primers: 1 or 2


Foundations

Paula's Choice Resist Instant Smoothing Anti-Aging Foundation in Porcelain - This is a pretty good shade match. I haven't used it regularly in a while to remember how well I like it.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation in 0.5 - This is the foundation I've been using the most for a while now. It's the foundation that I've been working on using up. The shade match is pretty good, but there's something I haven't been liking about it lately.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation in Fair (After I took this picture I found another tube of Fair and a tube of Light...*sigh* Thankfully, I think my mom is going to take at least one of those tubes) - This foundation really annoys me. I had a tube that I bought not long after this foundation was released, and it was a really good match. Sadly, they seem to have changed the shade because this tube (and the tester in Ulta) is too dark.

NYX Invincible Fullest Coverage Foundation in Ivory - This foundation is one that was surprising to me. When it comes out of the tube, it looks like it is too dark, but it actually blends in and matches me really well. I like it pretty well.

Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundation in Fair - Another Tarte foundation that is too dark for me.

Cover FX Custom Cover Drops in N10 - This is my most recent foundation purchase, and I'm really liking it. I haven't used it much recently because I'm trying to use up other foundations, but I think this might be a staple in my collection.

Tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Liquid Foundation in Fair - Darn Tarte! This is another foundation that is too dark for me. *sigh*

With the foundations that I have that are too dark, I have Life's Entropy Foundation Elixir in White on my wishlist to make them a better match. I would eventually like to only have foundations that truly match my skintone.


Silk Naturals HD Foundation Samples in N10 and N20 - The full-size of this product is in a stick form, which would this much easier to apply. I find it difficult to apply this from the sample pod. The N10 shade is a really good match for me though.

Total number of foundations: 7 full size and 2 samples
Ideal number of foundations: 1 to 3


Correctors

Silk Naturals Peach HD Concealer in 10 (full size and sample) - I recently finished the full size and sample I had of this product in shade 20. I personally find shade 10 too light. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with these since I'm not sure if I'll be able to make them work.

Pixi Correction Concentrate in Brightening Peach - I've been working on finishing off other correctors for so long that I haven't used this particular one in a really long time.

BareMinerals Correcting Concealer in Light 1 - I've already finished one of these in the past. I liked it well enough that I picked up a second one on sale during one of Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty.

Tarte BB Tined Undereye Corrector in Fair to Light - Yet again, I have multiples because of QVC sets. I've made a big dent in one of them, so I should hopefully be down to two soon.

Total number of correctors: 6 full size and 1 sample
Ideal number of correctors: 1



Concealers

NYX Full Coverage Concealer in Porcelain - I'm actually really happy with this concealer. This is the one that I use most days.

Meow Concealer in Inquisitive Siamese (Large and Small Jar) - I don't use this nearly as much as I used to, but I still feel like it is a staple in my collection. It is really handy to have a powder concealer for adding a final touch of extra coverage when a cream concealer doesn't quite cut it. I typically use this after I've finished my makeup entirely and need a little more help covering a spot. The reason there are two jars is because I transfer a small amount of product into the smaller jar instead of using it directly from the larger jar.

NYX Incredible Waterproof Concealer in Porcelain - This concealer lives in my purse along with another small jar of the Meow concealer. I am frankly terrible about touching up my makeup when I'm out, but they are handy to have around. Since this NYX concealer is so inexpensive, I don't feel bad about having it basically collect dust in my purse.

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in CIA - I like this concealer, and I like the convenience of having it in pencil form. I use this on days when I'm a little to lazy to deal with the NYX jar concealer and a brush.

Total number of concealers: 4
Ideal number of concealers: 4

I am actually really happy with my concealer selection right now. I like having the option of a stick concealer or a jar and the powder concealer for a boost of coverage. Like I said with the NYX stick concealer, I like having an inexpensive product in my purse for the random times when I do feel the need to do a touch-up while out and about.


Powders

Meow Pampered Puss Mineral Foundation in Inquisitive Siamese - I used to wear Meow's foundation on its own, but now I wear it as a finishing powder for extra coverage.

Random Mix of Powders - Yes, this jar also says it is a Meow foundation, but this was actually an empty jar I used to combine a lot of random loose finishing powders I had. At this point, I don't even really know what all is in this jar. I know most of it is the illuminating BareMinerals Mineral Veil because I had several of those from...you guessed it...QVC. I know there is a mini regular Mineral Veil in there, and I'm pretty sure there is pure silica powder and silk powder in there as well. It's basically the dumping ground for loose powders that I don't hate but don't love.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder - I haven't opened this yet. I vaguely remember using a mini of this powder a while ago and liking it, so for right now, this isn't going to join the powder dumping ground (which is full anyway).

Too Faced Amazing Face Skin-Balancing Flexible Coverage Foundation Powder in Vanilla Creme - I bought this as a pressed powder foundation to try since I've used loose for so long. I've thrown this in my purse a few times when I've had something to go to after work. It's okay, but I don't love it.

Physician's Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Powder Foundation in Translucent Light - I bought this a long time ago because it was on clearance. It's a little too dark for me. I used up another compact a few years ago when I got a little bit more of a tan than I usually get. I haven't gotten that tan since. I've thought about crushing this up and adding it to my powder dumping ground.

Total number of powders: 5
Ideal number of powders: 2 - one with coverage and ones translucent


Correcting Concealer Powder(s)

You are probably wondering why these weren't up with the other correctors. I use this as a final step after I finish my eye makeup, and I arranged these pictures in the order I use them.

Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar Light Peach and Medium Peach
Silk Naturals Translucent Cloud Powder

While there are four items here, this is really classified as one product for me. Light Peach is too light, and Medium Peach is too dark, so I mix the two together. I add in some of the Translucent Cloud powder because it isn't supposed to absorb oil, so theoretically, it is good for under my eyes, which tends to be drier. I still haven't found a balance here since I wish I could just skip this step in my routine, since I'm sure it dries out the skin under my eyes, but I like the extra coverage.

Total number of correcting concealer powders - 3 (or 1 depending on how you count them)
Ideal number of correcting concealer powders - 3 (or 1 depending on how you count them)


Mattifying Products

Mally Evercolor Poreless Face Defender (x2) - I have a full size and a smaller size of this. Theoretically, this product is great. I've already mentioned the fact that I rarely do touch-ups during the day, so these don't get used very often. I need to use them more. 

Face Blotting Papers (ELF and Paula's Choice) - I stocked up on the ELF blotting papers a long time ago operating on the theory that I would use them regularly. I should, but I don't. The Paula's Choice blotting papers can as a freebie in an order I placed. 

Total mattifying products: 6 (there is a blotting paper packet not pictured)
Ideal number of total mattifying products: 1

What are your thoughts on face products? I know some people really love trying out new foundations and concealers. I would love to have a set routine that just works and stick with it. I think I'm actually getting close and look forward to clearing out some of these excess products. 

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.
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Colour Pop Haul - Review and Swatches

July 26, 2015, 2:42 pm
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I feel really late jumping on the Colour Pop bandwagon, but I just placed my first order with them back in May when they did their anniversary special with a free limited-edition eye shadow. Add that in with the $5 coupon code that comes with signing up for their email newsletter, and it was a deal that couldn't be passed up.

When I was planning my order, I wanted to try a little bit of everything except their lip products, but that's just because I don't typically wear colored lip products. I ended up getting four eye shadows, one blush, and two highlighters.

Before we look at individual products, here's a quick shot of the packaging:



Their standard packaging for their eye and face products is a clean white jar with a screw top lid. I didn't think to take a picture of it, but the sides of the lid go down really far, about 3/4 of the way to the bottom of the jar itself. I'm guessing that is because the texture of their products is a cream/mousse type of consistency, so they run the risk of drying out if the container isn't sealed tightly. Because of that texture, you can't expect to see any palettes from this brand. It just wouldn't work.


The label on the back obviously gives you the name of the color as well as the type of product. What I think is a really nice touch is they also include the finish of the product (it's hard to read here, but it is under Super Shock Shadow).

On to the eye shadows! I didn't notice it when I placed my order, but you'll begin to see a trend here....


Plunge (Pearlized): Colour Pop describes this shade as a light warm beige with a golden sheen. That is pretty accurate. To me, it looks like a soft, golden bronze shade.


Truth (Satin): Colour Pop describes this as a neutral light beige with a warm satin finish, I don't really have anything to add to that description.


I Heart This (Metallic): Colour Pop describes I Heart This as a cool-toned silvery taupe with multi-colored glitter. Again, I would consider their description to be spot-on.


Birthday Girl - Limited Edition (Metallic): As I mentioned up above, part of what made me order was a free, limited edition eye shadow that was part of their birthday celebration. I don't have an official color description, but I would describe it as a warm golden bronze with multi-colored glitter, with silver being the prominent glitter color. It is deeper than Plunge but distinctly warmer than I Heart This. You've probably noticed the hot pink packaging. It is currently unique to this color.

Did you notice the trend? If not, let's see if this helps:


From left to right: Plunge, Truth, I Heart This, Birthday Girl

I don't know how I didn't realize it until I got my order, but I chose colors that were all very similar. Thinking back on it though, it makes sense. I had read a review from a smaller blog that complained about the ease of application. I was worried about a brush being able to pick up the product, so I wanted to choose lid-shades just in case I was only happy with finger application. The unexpected advantage of this choice was that I get to compare finishes within a very similar color family. 


Top to bottom: Truth and Plunge



Top to bottom: Birthday Girl and I Heart This

I have to say that I've fallen in love with the pearlized finish of Plunge. It's got more of a shimmery kick than Truth's satin finish, but it isn't bordering on over-the-top glitter like Birthday Girl and I Heart This. 

I'm happy to say that brush application isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I do have to work a little harder than with a normal shadow to get the brush loaded with product, and I tend to dip back into the pan more times to get the coverage that I want, but it is doable. Finger application is really easy too. I might venture out enough to get a crease or liner color the next time I place a Colour Pop order. 

As for wear time, these shadows are awesome! I use primer because I always use primer, but these look almost if not as good by the end of the day as they did in the morning. I haven't experienced any creasing, and there is little to no fading. They've even lasted through an entire workday and an intense workout at the gym. 

I wore I Heart This recently, and I did notice some glitter fallout by the end of the day. It wasn't an excessive amount where I wanted to run and hide instead of running errands after work. I don't think the people that I was interacting with during errands would have noticed anything, but when I looked a little closer than normal in a mirror, I could see it. The glitter factor is definitely something to keep in mind if you are looking at buying any of the metallic finish shadows. 

On to face products: 


Monster (Pearlized): Colour Pop describes Monster as a light pink with a highly-opalescent duochrome finish. To me, the base looks more white than pink because it is that pale, and the base color really disappears on the skin. The pink opalescence is absolutely beautiful.  


Lunch Money (Pearlized): Colour Pop describes this highlighter as a soft light gold with a reflective golden duo-chrome finish. I don't really see how this is a duo-chrome shade, but it is still beautiful.


Mochi (Matte): Colour Pop describes Mochi as a bright blue-pink, and I consider that to be accurate.


From left to right: Monster, Lunch Money, and Mochi

Although the formula is a similar cream/mousse texture like the eye shadows, there are distinct differences. The highlighters feel thinner and creamier than the eye shadows, and the blush feels much drier than the other two. 

I love the highlighters. They apply like a dream. I have stuck with applying these with my fingers since fingers seem just as easy to apply a cream product like this to small areas of the face. They blend out nicely and last pretty well throughout the day. 

As already mentioned the blush feels really stiff and dry to me. The dry texture makes it harder to pick up product. Since I chose such a bright color, it makes it harder to over-apply it. Sadly, the dry texture also seems to make it a bit harder to blend out on the cheeks as well. It isn't impossible; it just isn't as easy as other cream blushes in my collection. After trying a few different brushes, I've decided that I prefer using a dense brush that still has plenty of movement, like the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. While the blush lasts pretty well throughout the day, I see quite a bit of fading by the time I get home in the evening. 

Final Thoughts

I really like the eye shadows that I got, particularly Plunge with the pearlized finish, and the highlighters are gorgeous. I'm not chomping at the bit to place another order immediately, but it is very likely that I'll order more in the future. The blush is nice, but I don't like it well enough to order more of them in the future. I think the only exception might be if they come out with a really unique color that I haven't seen someplace else. 

Have you tried Colour Pop? What products/colors are your favorite or are on your wishlist?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 
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Finish 13 by Halloween - A Project Pan Challenge

August 2, 2015, 7:36 am
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Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I know I just did a post about products I'm trying to use up not very long ago, so it probably seems pretty silly that I'm doing one again, but this one is going to be slightly different. 

I had mentioned in my previous post about the Pan that Palette Challenge that I'm working on with my Lorac Pro Palette. That challenge introduced me to the panning community on YouTube and other social media sites. They do a variety of panning challenges throughout the year, with different time frames and different amounts of products. I love the idea! It is such great motivation seeing other people who are focused on using up products. 

I first saw this challenge on Amber F's YouTube channel. You can see her introduction with her products here. 

Although Amber is taking part, the two YouTubers who came up with this challenge are Megan and Tatum. You can see their introduction videos here and here. 

As you can probably guess, the rules of this project are pretty simple. You pick 13 products that you want to use and and see how far you can get with them by Halloween. There are no restrictions on the products themselves. I've seen some people use deluxe samples or groups of mini samples. I've seen some people choose products that were nearly new but say that their goal was to just hit pan on the product instead of using it up completely. I love the flexibility of it. 

Most of the products that I chose for this project were already mentioned in my previous post, so it is going to be a little redundant, but I'm going to go ahead and show them again with updated pictures. Several products already have visible progress, which is really exciting. Just as a note for the sake of timeline, all of these product pictures were taken on July 25, a week before this post will actually go live. As another note, some of these products are not cruelty-free, and they are in this project specifically so I can finish them up and move them out of my collection.


Product #1 - Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation in 0.5: I haven't been using this foundation since my last post since I've been using the NYX one. In order to better track my progress when I do start using it again, I have drawn a line to show where I currently am with it.  

Product #2 - NYX Invincible Fullest Coverage Foundation in Ivory: I've been liking this foundation quite a bit. As you can see, I have used a binder clip to keep some of the air squeezed out of the tube. 

It's a little ambitious of me to have two foundations in here, but as you can see, I really don't have a whole lot left of the Urban Decay one, and it feels like the NYX one has a lot gone in it too. I can almost roll the tube over one more time. If I don't finish both of them by Halloween, I expect that I can at least have them both done by the end of the year. 


Product #3 - Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer in Fair: This wasn't in my post before about finishing products up, but it was in my face product inventory post. I've got two of these, and the color is a little bit dark for me. I figured I would try and use it up now while the weather is still warm, and I can pretend I have a tan. I've got it rolled all the way up here, so you can see how much product there is. Like the foundations, I don't know that I'll be able to finish this by the end of the project, but I'm hoping. 


Product #4 - Silk Naturals Blush Samples in Guava and Lychee: Because of the size of the samples, I am counting these two samples together as one product. Guava is a great shade for this time of the year, and I think Lychee will be a nice color to start transitioning into fall.

Product #5 - Darling Girl Torrid Eye Shadow Sample: This looks a little silly by comparison to have two blush samples and this tiny sample by itself, but this color is one that I only use as a liner, so I only use a tiny bit for each application, and it isn't something I will use every day.


Product #6 - Nars Laguna Bronzer Mini: This is one of the products that is already showing quite a bit more pan than what it did a couple of weeks ago. I use it with a big fluffy brush to do a light dusting around the perimeter of my face. As long as I keep using it consistently, I don't think I'll have any trouble finishing it.


Product #7 - Tarte BB Tinted Undereye Corrector in Fair to Light: This is another one that is already showing a good amount of progress. You can see that I've hit the edge of the pan.

Product #8 - Stila Smudge Pot in Kitten: I can see a lot of progress on this product too, but this is definitely a long-shot product to finish it by Halloween. I might end up using it until then and just getting rid of it. This is one of those products that I want to move out of my collection because Stila is not cruelty-free.


Product #9 & #10 - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Zero and Ransom: These were mini eyeliners, which is one of the reasons I chose them. The other is because Zero works well as a base for the Darling Girl eye shadow sample I'm trying to use up, and Ransom works really well as a base for Deep Purple from the Lorac Pro Palette, the palette I'm working on using up.


Product #11 - Lorac Baked Matte Satin Eye Shadow in Posh: This is the shadow that I'm using as my regular browbone highlight shade, so I'm hoping to move it out pretty quickly. 

Product #12 - Urban Decay Primer Potion Mini: You can see my binder clip trick again here. I used to love this primer. It was my favorite, but it doesn't seem to work as well as it did. I've been using it with another base (currently the Stila Smudge Pot), and it has been working okay that way. 



Product #13 - Nude Eye Shadow from the Lorac Pro Palette: In my other post, I mentioned that I'm working on the Pan that Palette Challenge started by Amber F, and I'm trying to pan the Lorac Pro Palette. I'm working on using up Nude right now by using it as a layering shade. Currently I'm layering it over Gold from the same palette because I find Gold to be too intense on its own. 

Those are my 13 products for this project. Have you taken part in any kind of panning challenge? How did it go for you? 

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 
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