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Victorian Disco FOTD: Dashing Doctor, Spacey Wacey and Mollywobbles

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The sheer amount of indie samples I have amassed is kind of really scary. Actually more ridiculous, but let’s go with scary. I’ve decided to actively use up some of the samples. My eye base is MAC Paint Pot in Painterly with a sheer, sheer layer of the Oslo Cosmetics Eye Bond Primer Wand over it.

20 Days of Lipstick - MAC Rebel

Victorian Disco FOTD - Eyes

For this look, I used some of my Victorian Disco shadows! I’ve got Dashing Doctor on the lids with Spacey Wacey on the outer corners, and a rather pretty coral called Mollywobbles on the lower lash line.

Standard black liquid liner on my upper lash line.

Victorian Disco FOTD

Quite unsure of what my blush color is here (pretty sure it might be Illamasqua’s Cream Blusher in Dixie?) but the lip is MAC’s Rebel, which is a new discovery/revelation for me.

And that’s that! I’ve been trying to wear more colors on my eyes lately, and I think I’m enjoying it quite a bit.

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20 Days of Lipstick: Week 4 Recap

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And the last week of 20 Days of Lipstick is late and ends on a Tuesday. Mostly because I didn’t want to extend it for another week (i.e. prolong the recap and post next Sunday), just because I ran out of days for lipstick-wearing. Anyway, ahem.

20 Days of Lipstick - Le Metier de Beaute Signature
DAY FIFTEEN feat. Le Métier de Beauté Hydra-Crème Lipstick in Signature

I got this in the first Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP box, when they had yet to launch the Hydra-Crème line, and I would never have picked this for myself. Mostly because I don’t believe that reds look all that good on me. I’m glad I got this, though, because I think it might be my favorite “real” red (in case Guerlain’s Orgueil is too purple to count for all y’all. The formula is fantastic, too, if anyone was wondering. Especially for a matte lipstick! I forgot how much I loved this one, to be honest. Read More

Stashed & Forgotten: MAC Powder Blush in Ambering Rose

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MAC Powder Blush - Ambering Rose - Pan
Here’s another “forgotten” item from my days of overpurchasing. (Oops.) It’s a MAC Sheertone Shimmer Powder Blush in Ambering Rose, described by MAC as a “muted rose.” I myself find it to be a bit more of a golden terracotta/brick-ish color. It’s warmer and more orange-leaning than what I consider to be a rose—not exactly a color I’d immediately spring for—but it looked like a cooler rose shade online. Read More

Sample Stash Sunday feat. Benefit: BDJ Box 7 Day Challenge

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I’m not sure for how long these monthly BDJ Box challenges run, but there was so much stuff to sample from the Benefit exclusive box by BDJ last month that I felt I should try and do it, so I could try everything out, at least! Here’s a diary I began some time in June.

The products were used, collectively, for seven days. I tried to get a rotation going, but I missed using all my other makeup, too. 🙂 The eye cream was a mainstay, though, but I’ll put it out there right now—it wasn’t my favorite of the bunch!

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream

DAY ONE
And on the first day, I used the It’s Potent! Eye Cream, and I saw that it was good. Intended for “brighter, younger-looking eyes,” It’s Potent! fades dark circles and helps smooth fine lines. I noticed that it has a more emollient texture than my current eye cream (Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream), but it also sinks in much faster and isn’t sticky. I’ll try to use this under makeup/concealer during this challenge, but so far, so good.

Benefit Stay Flawless Primer

DAY TWO
I used three base/face products today: Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer, Fake Up Concealer (02 Medium), and Big Easy. Among them all, I think I like the Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer the most. It’s an “instant PRO-long primer [that] acts like a magnet to lock on your foundation for 15 fresh and flawless hours.” It felt OK on my face for maybe 8 hours, but I needed to powder down by the ninth hour.

Benefit Fake Up Concealer

The Fake Up Concealer is a “hydrating crease-control concealer” that “hides dark circles and diffuses fine lines for a silky smooth, ultra-natural look.” I got mine in the 02 Medium shade and it’s a pretty good match, but it’s not that pigmented. I didn’t set it with a powder, but it feels like something you ought to do to keep it from slipping around. After a few hours, I noticed it settling into pores. It’s not a horrible product—it blends really well and looks really natural when you first apply it—but I don’t think it’s suitable for my skin type or my personal needs for a concealer. I’ve tried highlighting with it, though, and it works well enough!

Benefit Big and Easy

Lastly, I’ve got the Big Easy Bigger Than BB Liquid to Powder Multi-Balancing Complexion Perfector in 01 Fair. It “contains ingredients known to help balance moisture and control oil. The cushiony liquid-to-powder formula self adjusts to your exact shade to even out skintone and conceal imperfections.” This shade is way too light on me, but you can’t really tell, so it’s fine. I like that this has SPF, but I’m not a fan of the texture, too-light coverage, and the longevity of this product. I won’t be switching out any of my bases for this any time soon.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush - Diffused Heat - Face
Day Two FOTD

I used the It’s Potent! Eye Cream again today as a night treatment because I forgot to try and wear it under makeup.

Benefit - Lollitint

DAY THREE
For Day Three, I thought I’d wear one of the tints and Lollitint was calling out to me more. It’s a “candy-orchid tinted lip and cheek stain,” perfect for this year’s Pantone Color, which if you didn’t already know is Radiant Orchid. I don’t have much experience with tints, but this does stain the face rill good and gives a really fucking cute flush. I didn’t expect it would… Goes to show you how much I know.

Benefit The Porefessional

I also used the Porefessional for the first time today. The Porefessional is a “PRO balm to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin.” This is kind of a cult product, the first face primer that I had ever heard of. It’s kind of weird that I never even tried it before today.

Also used today: Fake Up Concealer

Dr. Vita - Vita C Vitamin Brightening Gel - Face (Makeup)
Day Three FOTD

DAY FOUR AND FIVE
I just managed to use the Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream.

Benefit Benetint

DAY SIX
The last item on my to-try list is the Benetint, which I first heard about from a YouTube video. I ventured to try it, but was really apprehensive about it. (I didn’t end up getting it.) Benetint is a “rose-tinted lip and cheek stain,” aimed at getting a natural-looking “sexy” flush.

Also used today: Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer, Fake Up Concealer, Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream

Sadly, I do not have a picture of my Day Five FOTD, but I love the look of Benetint!

DAY SEVEN
So far, I’ve tried everything, but I felt like wearing Lollitint again. It’s kind of really great, but I don’t see myself purchasing it soon. Mostly because I have way too much stuff. And also because I have opted out of Benefit a long time ago. These products (most of them newish releases) have been okay, so far and getting to try them out has banished my major case of FOMO. That’s “Fear Of Missing Out” for all you oldies. Just kidding, I totally had to Google that.

Also used today: POREfessional, Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream

I have been using the It’s Potent! Eye Cream on and off for about a month, and it’s a pretty good eye cream. It’s definitely something I’d rather use under concealer—it sure helped elevate my opinion of the Fake Up Concealer, which still doesn’t beat the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in my book.

YAY. I did it! Here is my final verdict on the products:
PASS: Benefit POREfessional, Benefit Big Easy
MEH/OK: Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream, Benefit Fake Up Concealer
YAAAAAAS: Benefit Lollitint, Benefit Benetint, Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer

I love the tints so much, I bring them around in a little tin case:
Benefit Samples in Tins

The POREfessional tube is there for touch-ups. 🙂 What do you think about these products?

* PR Samples. Benefit is not cruelty-free.

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Mask Appeal: A Selection of Sheet Masks from Leaders InSolution*

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Leaders InSolution Masks

I am a sheet mask nut. I love them so much. But of course, not all sheet masks were created equally. My favorites so far are the ones by The Beauty Buffet (available at Watson’s, sometimes on sale!) and Dermal (a bit pricier, but so good).

I was really excited to see sheet masks in my BNTGirls Box this month. Leaders InSolution Sheet Masks* are known to be some of the best on the market.

From the masks I received, two were “Premium Care,” these first two aren’t part of that range and come in a narrower packet. The first one I tried was the Collagen Lifting Skin Renewal Mask. It’s for skin firming and skin elasticity; this mask “helps recover younger-looking skin with revitalizing skin by supplying plenty of moisture.”

Leaders InSolution - collagen Lifting Skin Renewal Mask

This is what the mask looks like:
Leaders InSolution - Collagen Lifting Skin Renewal Mask - Sheet

And what the mask looks like on the face: Read More

Lazy Girl Makeup: Quickly

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A look for all y’all who need to get out of the door quickly! Here’s the look, with my old hair, still:

Lazy Girl Makeup - Quick Stuff - Face

It’s pretty basic and safe-ish, but passably put-together if I may say so myself. I don’t tend to fuss too much with base/complexion products when I’m in a hurry, but on a real bad skin day, I will pick up a concealer and target problem spots and areas. Here’s a video in which I talk a bit more about the products and show you how I use them:

Lazy Girl Makeup - Quick Stuff

Products Mentioned:
— NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (Ginger)
— Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (shown: Luminous Light)
— K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 24H (02)
— MAC Paint Pot (shown: Constructivist)
— MAC Eye Kohl (shown: Prunella. Teddy)
— Illamasqua Cream Blusher (shown: Dixie)
— BECCA Beach Tints (shown: Raspberry)
— Addiction by Ayako Cheek Sticks (shown: Revenge)
— NARS Pure Matte Lipstick (Montego Bay)

What are your go-tos for a quick makeup look? 🙂

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June Monthly Favorites & July Beauty Goals

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Aside from my Beauty Dare (20 Days of Lipstick), June was a pretty lazy makeup month, partly because I was more antisocial than usual. Here are a few of the beauty bits I enjoyed a lot the past month, though.

June 2014 Favorites

I kept switching it up in the eye makeup department, but a quad that I went back to a lot is THREE’s Star Guitar. I also practically used a MAC Paint Pot called Groundwork on my lids as a primer when I became too dark to use Painterly.

I’m still loving my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I have the shade Ginger and was convinced that I maybe should have gotten Custard instead but that turned out to be too light for me. For my quick face base, I was using the Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder in Shade 2 a lot last month, though towards the end, I began using my liquid foundations and bases more.

My go-to cheek has definitely been the Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie. I used to apply this with a stippling brush but I’ve been using my fingers lately. I dab it on to apply and blend, and it is just the perfect summer color and formula. So freaking fuss-free, it’s not even funny.

Two LUSH new buys and new favorites have been the LUSH Tea Tree Water, which I have mentioned in a recent skin care post—I believe I called it magical—and the LUSH Cynthia Sylvia Stout Beer Shampoo. This smells like heaven. It doesn’t look like I’ve used a lot but it’s because I have way shorter hair and I don’t really shampoo it everyday.

So those are my favorites! 🙂 Please do share some of yours. And now, on to the goals. I feel a little loser-y actually making beauty goals, but I figured I’d revisit a post I wrote at the beginning of the year… in which I have, in fact, already written some goals for 2014.

Ahem. So, here’s a summary of what I wrote, and a mid-year recap. Feel free to skip this onto the actual JULY GOALS part:

  • Project Pan: Going pretty well… I actually did hit pan a few days ago! I don’t think this is working out for me, designating which products to work on (which explains the demise of my Project Make-a-Dent), so I’m scrapping this.
  • Makeup Inventory: Fell by the wayside, then I got pretty spendy recently.
  • Spend Sheet: A thing I started doing, then didn’t do, but will pick up again in July.
  • Focus on health and skin care: OK with skin care, will have to kickstart health aspect… though I have been drinking more water and cutting back on meal portions.
  • Be more adventurous! This was about eye makeup! I think I’m getting there.
  • Purge, purge, purge: Had a blog sale, will hold one again in August
  • Unsubscribe from Devil Emails: Doing OK so far.
  • Continue my CF journey: Doing OK so far. I haven’t bought a non-CF item, though I’ve reviewed items sent to me that are not confirmed as cruelty-free.
  • Explore independent and local cosmetic brands: Kind of, but not really so much now. I love indie cosmetics but I find that I don’t reach for a lot of the loose shadows as much, so I have to use these up or actually use them before I get back on this exploration train.
  • Press pigments and depot bulky cosmetics: I did this a few times, but I realized that I am not good at pressing stuff, so that stopped happening. I did end up getting those individual/detachable MUJI pillcases for my depotted lipsticks to live in.
  • Have fun and don’t sweat it — at the end of the day, it’s just makeup, ya goof!: I ended up overthinking this makeup thing, lol. Don’t worry, I’m OK now.

I also had a goals list after I got engulfed in my consumerist guilt. Predictably, I failed most of them. LOL. I think these are manageable:

Actual July Beauty Goals

  • Wear lip liner long enough to tell if it makes a difference or not.
  • Use up as much lip gloss as you can without looking like you ate porkchops.
  • Do another makeup purge for August Blog Sale + give away everything that doesn’t sell. Not to you, lol, that would be weird.
  • Makeup Spend Sheet. For shame and posterity. Just kidding! For responsible financial uh… monitoring.
  • Make more videos!
  • Clean your brushes regularly. You filthy animal!
  • Streamline nail polish stash. Get rid of colors you don’t like wearing. Change your nail color at least 3 times this month.
  • Change up your eye look. Use up indie samples.

And that’s that! Not terribly exciting, I know. I think bite-sized monthly goals are great for keeping track of my larger year goal, though, so there’s that. What do you want to happen in your beauty life this month?

I really feel like a dork, having to do this, but I really would be such a floaty makeup monster otherwise.

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