WnW, Physicians Formula, Garnier Haul 2012

I've been hauling as much as I can! With a couple of new products out on the market, I just can't help it. I bought a couple of 'first time' items such as the new Revlon Colorburst lip butter and some C.O. Bigelow lip shines from BBW. Overall I'm pretty excited about most of my stash! I've been using quite a number of these items on a regular and never get tired of them.

CHI's Ceramic Nail Lacquer ($1.99) was a low-price find that seemed to be well worth it. Nano Silver, ceramic, and silk, are added to the formula that resists chipping. I got 5 colors...names are cute with an OPI-ish style. Left to Right is Purple Nights at the Mexican Riviera, Meet me in the copy room, Overnight Celebrity, Montego Bay Orange, and Snow Angels in Central Park. They are good for resisting chipping but show signs of wear just after 3 days.

I came across the newest MegaLast lip colors ($2.99). I assume these colors were so popular I have yet to find them again. MegaLast by Wet n Wild offers these long-wear lip colors with a nice color selection...These new colors are divine, 2 being actually wearable with my skintone while the other 2 are a bit too bright and shocking, but nevertheless are cute to add to my collection...Left to Right is Pinkerbell (968), Dollhouse Pink (967), 24 Carrot Gold (969), and Don't Blink Pink (966).

Another lipstick I've been wanting to try more colors of were the Ultra Color Rich lipsticks by Avon. Here I have Instant Mocha and Poppy Love that I picked up while they were on sale for 2.99 each. While I do have Rich Ruby, I find these transfer a bit too much to my liking. Rich Ruby is described as a matte red, Instant Mocha is a satiny mauve pink, and Poppy Love a bright red-orange similar to MAC's Lady Danger.

World Balmination - Glossy tinted lip balm by Hard Candy

One of my newest faves are the Color Sensational lipsticks which to my surprise I did not like at first. At this point I'm sure it was because of the color I had tried which I found was too slippery and shiny. But Pink Me Up (not pictured) has been on my lips practically since March! What I love about these is the satin smooth feel that keeps my lips comfortable during wear. My latest lemming was for Make me Pink and Red Revolution (above).

LA Colors Trio in Orchid

Milani's Multi-tasker powder ($5.99) has become an instant favorite of mine, which came at a good time being that I was in search of a great face powder. The multi-purpose powder is suppose to offer setting, finishing, and blotting, all of which have met these expectations. The powder works great at absorbing excess oil and reduces shine on my face but not so much on my nose, which I have to blot after 4 hrs or so. My color is in Light Tan 04, which I apply using a large round face brush like the Sephora Professionnel 49. I find the powder works best on me after I apply a face lotion or tinted moisturizer.

After seeing a few swatches of Revlon's Lip butters I decided on Lollipop ($4.99) which is a medium fuchsia pink with slight blu-ish undertones. The formula is rich and decadent and this particular color is chock full of pigment. Formulated with Mango, Coconut butter, and Shea that helps to boost lip moisture, I find that it lacks in moisture when wearing for a few hrs. I have yet to see another color that I would like to try but I'll keep my eye out.

New Sinful colors in Feeling Great, Cinderella, and Morning Star

I'm usually hesitant to buy Avon mostly because color matching foundations can be difficult from swatches in a book. I had heard that Avon's Extra Lasting foundation ($10.00) was a good one so I had to try it out for myself. I ordered Soft Honey only to learn that 1. It was too dark for me and 2. It seemed to get darker (oxidizing) after applying. Overall I really like the finish which dries matte.

Another thing I like about this foundation is that it has a pump but I am not crazy about it's cheap plastic quality.

Physicians Formula Bronzer (but I use as a highlighter) in Vegas Strip

Physicians Formula introduced a new pH line which is pH makeup that adapts to skin's own PH and lighting environment.

-Flourescein Based Dye is a dye that senses your pH level on your skin and adjusts within seconds.
-Photochromic Powders have lighting adjusting pigments that adapt to your environment.

Currently the line carries bronzer, lip gloss, and powdered blush, but I only wanted to try the blush, pH Matchmaker pH Powered Blush ($8.99) which I got in 'Natural' I would describe as a bright pink with red undertones. The packaging is quite bulky but is easy to use. It features a small blush brush at its underside compartment and lights up using LED power on both sides of the mirror.

A pish-posh of a few things like Rimmel London's Volume Flash the Max, ELF gel eyeliner, Maybelline Line Stiletto eyeliner, Nicole by OPI Kim-pletely in love, Rimmel London np Black Satin, LA Colors np Fiji Purple, and my newest fave Maybelline One by One Volum Express mascara.

I've taken a huge liking to the new Garnier BB creams ($10.99) for many reasons....it provides buidable coverage and are the most moisturizing of any foundation I have tried. I say 'foundation' only because I am not a large fan of tinted moisturizers nor have I tried any popular BB creams in all my life. The formula is creamy and gives my skin a lasting moisturized effect. Not oily at all, does not clog pores, and best of all does not slide off or move around my skin. At first I bought the Light/Medium color and later bought the Medium/Deep for the fast approaching summer season and to my surprise both colors work great with my skintone. Below is the swatch to get an idea of the colors and undertones.

I tend to be more oily during hot weather but since pregnancy I have been experiencing somewhat dry skin. Garnier BB creams are perfect for my skin at this time because I need that richness in a moisturizer.

Swatches of the MegaLast lipsticks by Wet n Wild. Left to Right - Don't Blink Pink, Dollhouse Pink, 24 Carrot Gold, and Pinkerbell.

A Little Bit of Indulging

I compiled a list of items I wanted to try first, for example the YSL Volume Faux Cils Luxurious and the Shocking Bold felt-tip eyeliner pen before choosing addictive items like lipsticks, LOL. I wanted to stay clear of the lipsticks and glosses because I have so many...But for me, passing up a lipstick? It's like a bee passing up pollen swollen flowers! :) I kept eyeing them but took a deep breath and concentrated on my list which mostly consisted of powders, powder brushes, eyeliners, and mascaras. I was looking for a good powder to swipe over my new Garnier BB Cream, which I'm totally loving. Anywho, I went on a high-end haul and came home with a few things.

First stop was to check out some Pure Colors by Estee Lauder...but I really wish they had more of a color selection. I knew I wanted some sort of pink shade so Fuchsia Flame was my best choice. It is a creme finish and is one of the best quality polishes I own.

Estee Lauder Pure Color - Fuchsia Flame

The YSL deluxe sample gloss was complimentary of the associate from Saks, she knew me from when I would shop more frequently a few months back so she was kind enough to throw in a few samples. This shade is really nice, it's the Golden Gloss in #4 Golden Fuchsia. I actually really like the Golden Gloss line, these glosses are smooth and soft and come in a huge array of colors...Best of all they contains less than 0.2% of real 24 carat gold flecks :)

Originally I wanted the Chanel powder brush but when I tested it out at home it was sort of scratchy...I was a little disappointed with Saks return policy, as it seems they made a big deal that I had already used the brush, even though they had never given me any problems with returns previously...So I'm not sure what their 'deal' was that day....Honestly, if I am going to spend $60 on a powder brush, it better be pretty darn worth it! As soon as I returned it, off I went to find one that I liked. I tried MAC in search of the #134 but they were out so I finally found one I liked from Sephora, the Rounded Powder #49...and best of all does not scratch my face :) Which brings me to the Clinique Powder. I had used this powder previously while in high school and really liked it so I'm giving it another chance. Look at how big the brush is compared to the lid of the Clinique powder...that is big!

Clinique Blended Face Powder #3

Last but not least, my order from Nordstrom came in, dropping off 2 of the YSL Effet Faux Cils 'Shocking' Bold felt-tip eyeliner pen in Black. From what the associate was telling me at Saks, this pen has continuously sold out, so when I found it at Nordstrom's website I ordered 2. I love the bold and outrageously black color it gives, the felt tip pen is very convenient and easy to use. Meanwhile I went to Saks and picked up the YSL mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Luxurious because I heard great things about it.

Next on my list....The YSL - Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain...it's calling my name!!

February Shopping

A month full of Pink and Red mostly to celebrate Valentines Day, I was actually getting tired of it! But I did find some cute pencil bags and somehow suckered myself into getting the Nicole by Opi nail polish with the hearts. I found the new NYC lipstick very interesting. Wet n wild 'blue' eyeliner was on clearance and I picked up another NYX shadow pencil in Milk. The Avon balm was complimentary after I placed a jewerly haul, I mean order :)

-Revlon np 'Tangerine'

-Sephora np 'That's my Fuchsia Husband'

-Nicole np 'Have a Heart'

-Petites np 'Craze'

-NYC lipstick

-NYX Jumbo eye pencil 'Milk'

-WnW Liquid eyeliner 'Blue'

-Avon lip balm

The new MAC Viva Glam Nicki lipstick is divine. I also couldn't resist the clearance items on Urban Decay's website...I registered my email before I placed my order and wind up getting a 10% off coupon! I got the Fun Palette along with the 24/7 shadow pencil stash, and a 24/7 pencil in Woodstock, and a sample.

Fun Palette includes eyeshadows: Woodstock, Baked, Uzi, Sin, Flipside, and Psychedelic Sister

1 24/7 pencil in Oilslick and a deluxe UDPP.

Pencil Stash colors: Clash, Sin, Juju, Rehab, and Delinquent

Sample is Afterglow blush in Quickie...

I changed one of my Sephora cards to match my birthday for February so I could take advantage of this years Sephora Birthday gift which is 2 deluxe samples of Sugar lip balm. I did it this way because I am afraid it will run out before my real birthday in July.

I have more but the picture got deleted :( Will share next time :)

Makeup Diary: Collective Haul

With the holidays finally over I've been able to enjoy my cash for important stuff: Makeup! I placed a Hautelook order to finally retrieve some Jane blushes that I really love, I also dropped a few eyeshadows in my shopping cart. The 2 OPI's and NYX gloss I bought on a extended lunch break and I've been looking for a metallic blue eye kohl since losing my MAC one so I found one by essence that is really great :)

Jane Blush - Babydoll, Petal, Orchid Shimmer
Jane eyeshadows - Clubbing, Midnight
OPI - Sparrow me the Drama, Play the Peonies
NYX - Sweetheart
Essence - Heavy Metal

Lots of new polishes have been catching my eye lately so I managed to buy only the unique ones to add to my collection....But I am most excited about the light blue Revlon in the front there which is called Whimsical - a dupe for Deborah Lippmann's Glitter in the Air.

Sally Hansen - Glass Slipper
Nicole - Snowman of my Dreams
WetnWild - On a Trip, I need a Re-fresh Mint
Revlon - Buttercup
Revlon - Smoldering, Graceful, Mischievious, Chic, Whimsical

I can never have too many lipsticks! :) Don't know how I could have missed a few from Covergirl but I picked up Flame and from Maybelline Red Revolution and Pink Me Up. I found those new 14 hr lipsticks from Maybelline but only picked up Perpetual Peony to try. Had to pick up WetnWild's Megashield lipstick in 'It's a Girl'....seems like it would be a great color for the summer.

I ran into the new Rimmel lipsticks by Kate and picked up 08. That same day I passed by the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush display and decided to get Hot Tamale. Something tells me to keep the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadow which I got in Painted Purple, but I feel like I should return it because the amount in the pot and the amount said it contains doesn't add up. Finally I fell for another blue eyeshadow, WetnWild in Stagedive.

Gotta love Sephora and their clearance sales plus free shipping with tons of samples! I picked up a Tarte for Trueblood Liptint, Hello Kitty nail polish in Red Sparkle, 2 Hello Kitty Glittercute eyeliners in Grapesoda and Telephone and a Tokidoki glitter eyeliner in Skeletro. I finally got around to trying the newest and lovely Tarte Amazonion clay blush which the color Blissful was calling my name. Wanted to try the Lancome L'Absolu Rouge lipstick so I picked up Fleur de Lis.

My Apothica sponsorship giftcard came in handy this month so I picked up Too Faced shadow insurance, my first Paul and Joe product ever, which is the undereye concealer in 01, and Deborah Lippmann's nail lacquer in Happy Birthday.

The Balm and the Beautiful palette I picked up at a recent trip to Marshalls, and at more than half the price off the original I couldn't resist getting it... I'm glad I did, the eyeshadows and creme blushes inside are amazing.

Both orders gave an array of samples: Tom Ford edp Violet Blonde, Skyn Iceland eye cream, Smashbox Photofinish primer and luminizing primer, Tocca edp Cleopatra, Ahava Extreme day creme, Nuxe body cream, Cartier edp Baiser Vole, and 2 Super Melon cartenoids eye creams.

Holiday Haul

I began my Christmas shopping on a good note, my friend Trish had brought a bunch of MAC stuff to work and wanted to sell it cheap, so I bought the new white packaging lipstick from Glitter and Ice col. in Creme dNude...I mainly wanted it for the packaging so I could add it to my collection. Next to it is the newest Balm by Loreal and it's pretty good, it has Argan oil in it. And how come I have never seen this quad? I love Maybelline's Charcoal Smokes quad! I wore it yesterday while doing some shopping, I love it!

EOTD - Charcoal Smokes

I added falsies for a finished glamour look :)

I'm super excited about my early Christmas gift from my husband, he bought me my fave, The One by D and G. I ran out of this years ago and never could get myself to spend the money on another (it's $75 and up!) I can't even describe the scent, all I can say is that it's divine! I ran into this cute glittery nail polish by Color Club but I don't know what it's called but looks very similar to China Glazes Ruby Slippers. Over at CVS one day I picked up Big Money from the new Gems Crush SH col. which is a gold glitter base with sporatic lavender glitters...Very pretty, but why Big Money? I also got Essie's Ladylike which is ok, and Revlon in Graceful, which is a unique creme taupe grey.

CG's PR sent me the new Sofia Vergara collection for me to try...The Lashblast is a 24hr mascara and the lipstick is a duo ended wand with pretty colors to mix and match....Lip color is called Glimmer.

I had been watching some Youtube videos and decided to do a dollar store haul! I went on Friday and came home with lots of goodies...I got 4 NYC liquid eyeliners in Jet Black and Sable, a couple of colors of CG Smoothers which is a very soft and moisturizing lip color, 2 pairs of the very natural Kiss eyelashes in 02 which are super comfortable to wear! I wore them on Saturday in the picture from earlier! Love these and just may have to go get more! Last but not least I found a PopDuo pencil by Loreal which has a shadow stick on one side and a kohl eyeliner on the other, I love this! I only got one because I wanted to try it first but I may go back for the grey and the lavender :)

My local Texas Dollar had these crackle polishes for $1.50, I have tried them and they seem to be good but as it turns out I am not a fan of any crackle polish whether it be from OPI or China Glaze or even SH. I just don't like the way it looks :(

I found my first love of nail polish from like years ago! I began to get into cosmetics I'd say around 2005 and around that time I bought Rainyday Red, which is a gorgeous reddish Fuchsia Pink. I still have my first bottle which is dried out. I could never really match the color but I found it again! I found it and grabbed it costing me only 50 cents. I also bought this bracelet that I've been trying to find in unique colors, I still would like to find a pink one but only found red that day, so I decided to get it :)

Last but not least is a couple of designer imposter perfumes. I got the Harajuku Lovers col. and love the scents! I have tested out the real deals and I can't remember which one it was that I liked so I just decided to get all of them, except for 'Love'.