Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

ARGH!!! Why are all the best products so damn expensive?  Seriously, you have to be Megan Fox to afford this foundation but it actually gives you her perfect radiant skin.  Not fair.  Needless to say, I'm pretty much in a love/hate relationship with this foundation. 

Since I'm most insecure about my skin, finding a foundation that I love is really difficult for me.  Even the most natural looking foundations like Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua eventually break down on my face because I get so oily.  I could forgo powder and spend all day looking greasy which isn't going to work for me either.  I was visiting an old coworker who recently got a job at the Smashbox counter at Nordstrom and saw the Giorgio Armani counter.  I've heard really great things about the Luminous Silk Foundation - in fact, this is Kim Kardashian's foundation of choice.  I swatched a few on my arm and found that shade #2 was a pretty close match.  Turns out I am actually the lightest shade out of 18. 

$59.00 Nordstrom.com

Urban Decay Lush Lash System

I had mentioned in a haul about a month ago that I received both the Lush Lash Mascara as well as the serum/conditioner as gratis from Ulta.  I have been using both regularly (the mascara daily and the serum as often as I remember it - usually 3 times a week) and have actually noticed results.  I was a bit skeptical of these products because they were supposed to be paraben/cruelty free and organic.  Plus the price tag was somewhat reasonable compared to other lash boosting products on the market.  I'm happy to report that I have noticed a difference in my lashes.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes

So I was at working at Ulta the other day and I was cleaning up some shelves when I noticed this little Tarte kit that came with a smaller size Amazonian Clay blush in Dollface and a smaller Park Avenue Princess Bronzer for $12.  Being the sucker for amazing deals and tiny products, I decided to purchase it even though I did not like Dollface when I purchased it the first time - really, what did I have to lose?  The bronzer itself was probably worth the $12.  After using the blush again, I retract all previous statements about the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes.  I'm not sure if I had darker skin at the time or if I was just shocked with the larger price tag but I love this blush, especially when used with the bronzer.  It is easily build-able, last all day long (really, 12 hours is not an exaggeration) and is actually flattering.  I liked it so much that I've put the little blush in the makeup bag I carry in my purse and purchased a full size one as well as the color Natural Beauty which is a red from the Tarte website.  I love how the packaging is the same color as the blush so I don't have to go looking through my kit trying to figure out which blush is which and they come with a really great mirror.  On another note, shipping was amazingly fast - I placed the order in the afternoon and when I checked my tracking information the next morning it had already been delivered!!

Dollface is a light pink that you can build up to be more intense or wear lightly for a slight flushed look.  This color is great to wear with a darker eye because it doesn't take focus away from other parts of your face while still making you look alive.  I think this will be most flattering on light skin tones and wouldn't put it on anyone darker than an NW30 because I imagine it can come out looking quite ashy.

No Muss Monday - FOTD

I decided to do a face of the day today because it's 92° outside and while most people would just skip the makeup all together, I have decided to wear a minimal amount of makeup that still leaves me looking polished.  I would say this look took about 7 minutes to do all together which is really saying something. Please excuse the crappy picture quality, I had to use my iPhone.

Ulta Haul

As promised, here is a nice big juicy haul from Ulta.  I received some products as gratis for being an employee and they will be marked with an asterisk.

I have finally used up the last of my Murad Oil Control Mattifier that I purchased last November and desperately needed a new one because it is literally 115° outside and without it, I would not be wearing any makeup after about 5 minutes.

$39.50 Ulta.com

Best day ever!!

I had the best day in my entire life! Let's go back a little bit to the beginning. I recently posted about wanting to focus more on my makeup career and have taken some steps to do so. I made a Facebook page for my work, started doing some photo shoots and even did makeup for a wedding last weekend. While all of those things are wonderful and make me extremely happy, this next bit of news trumps all of it. A few weeks ago, I was looking through the casting calls on model mayhem to try and get some more experience when I came across a posting for a studio in the area that was hiring for a makeup artist. I emailed the company my resume and website and waited to hear back. The next day, the lead photographer called me and told me that they received my email and really liked my work and wanted to invite me in for an audition and interview. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and spent the next week researching the company and really preparing myself for the biggest opportunity in my career to date. Last night I started really getting worried about it. I'm used to putting makeup on people who are consumers and not on someone who is in the industry who will have their own critiques. I spent all night really getting myself sick with all the second guessing and doubting myself which I never do. This was a totally different experience for me because I'm generally pretty self assured and have an easy going attitude when it comes to job interviews. I still can't explain what happened to me and why I was so anxious. Luckily, all that stressing out about it last night seemed to diminish while I was sleeping. I don't know if it's because I left myself just enough time to get ready before my interview that there wasn't time for me to be in my head with all those doubts or what but as soon as I got to the interview I put my interview hat on and got to work. I ended up using the photographer who I spoke with on the phone as my model (who thankfully informed me that she knew very little about makeup) and I started in on a bridal look while the owner was upstairs doing a hair appointment. We talked about different kinds of makeup and I asked questions about the company and it ended up being really easy. When we were done, the owner took some time to come downstairs and gave me feedback on the makeup saying that while she liked the look, the foundation was a little heavy which I agreed with because the girl had really amazing skin. We talked while I got my kit packed up and then continued to talk for about another hour about all sorts of things. It was honestly the easiest interview of my life because it didn't feel like I was trying to impress her, it was just like talking to a friend who likes the same things you do. After all of that, she offered me the job! I was so excited to hear that, I immediately started grinning and gladly accepted. I am so thrilled to finally be doing something that I really love that could turn into an actual career for me. I was talking to my older sister who does not say nice complimentary things very often (she's very supportive but we have a superficial relationship) and she said "you know, you're really lucky to have found something that you love to do that you're good at and can make a career out of. I wish I had that". She is absolutely right and I never thought about it like that. A year ago, I didn't think that this was something that I could actually turn into a career and I thought this makeup thing was doomed to be a hobby and I'd be stuck in the business world miserable for the rest of my life. Sorry if this post seems a little self indulgent and has little to do with makeup in regards to product and I can assure you, upcoming posts will not disappoint. Anyway, thanks for reading if you did get all the way to the bottom of this post. I plan to do a little Ulta haul/gratis post pretty soon featuring some pretty exciting products.

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation Review

I've started thinking about my life (getting really deep here haha) and what I want to do and so I've decided to really buckle down and get this makeup artist career up and running.  I've applied to a few different studios and have a few photo shoots coming up in the next couple weeks.  With these upcoming jobs comes new products for my kit.  The first one being a foundation that is photo friendly.  Enter Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation.

$34 Sephora.com

Recent "photoshoot"

For those of you who were interested in the pictures from my makeup day a few weeks ago that didn't want to look on my Facebook page, I decided to post a few of the pictures here.  Let me know what you think.

MAC Dark Deed Lipstick

Update!

Some exciting new things happening in my life (maybe an excuse for being MIA recently).  I've stated in previous posts about how money hasn't exactly been flowing in like I'd like and so I've decided to do a few things about it.  I've started to really focus on my Makeup Artist career because ultimately, I'd like to make enough from that to stop working at my full time job.

About a week and a half ago, I got a bunch of my girl friends together and had a little makeup day.  I think there were 7 people all together and I spent about 6 hours putting makeup on my friends.  Then my best friend, Morgan who is a professional photographer, set up a little studio in my house and had a photo shoot with each of the girls.  It was so much fun getting everyone together to do that and I can't wait to see how the pictures turned out.

Along with that, I have decided to create a new website where I can direct prospective clients to see my portfolio, prices, and contact information.  I'm actually pretty proud of it and it turned out looking nice.  I'm hoping to get some business from that.  New business cards have also been ordered and I've also set up a Facebook Page to get myself out there as well.  You may notice the new addition to this page...go ahead, you can click like.  Look around at the pictures, share with your friends...it'll make me a very happy girl.

My biggest obstacle in being successful with doing makeup is getting myself out there.  I also have a slight fear of rejection but I've decided that I am getting too old to let that get in my way.  I'm hoping that all this time and effort (and money) will pay off in the long run and I'll get to have a career that I love.

Speaking of careers that I love, guess where I started working?  Ulta!  I applied online in the beginning of May, went for an interview about 3 weeks after that and a month after that, I finally got hired.  I believe that persistance really does pay off because I stalked the crap out of the manager at that store (just like I did at MAC).  I've only been working there for about a week and haven't done a whole lot yet.  I will be working in the Prestige department where all the fancy fun makeup is and I've gotten to do applications on a few people.  It's really nice to be able to talk about things that interest you when you're working instead of the most boring topic in the world - office supplies :(.  I hope that this will also advance my career in makeup artistry but if not, at least it's something that I like doing.

Last but not least, I have my first wedding of the season next weekend and I'm so excited for it.  I ended up doing the trial last Saturday for the bride and 2 bridesmaids.  They came to my house and we had a lot of fun trying on different makeup and taking pictures.  I can't wait until next Saturday when I get to do it all again (and then some).  I'm going to include some of my favorite shots below but you can see the rest on my Facebook Page.

Here is the bride, Katy.  She wanted something glamorous for the wedding but Saturday was also her bachelorette party.  The eyes will be toned down the day of but she asked for a little bit more since they were going out to a club that night.  What do you think of those red lips?

My friend Holly (the Maid Of Honor) let me use the same lashes from her photo shoot the week before and they were not cooperating.  She still turned out looking really pretty and had a good time. 

Amy wanted something soft and smoky that didn't look too done up.  She ended up looking very feminine and this was my favorite look of the day. 

I'll be sure to post a bunch of pictures from Katy's wedding as well as the pictures from the photo shoot last weekend.  Let me know if you want tutorials from any of these looks.  Until next time, lots of love.

June 2011 Favorites

Time for favorites again.  As I've said in the past, I'm not going to be doing a whole lot of hauls in the coming months because I'm financially strapped right now (more on that in a later post).  Because of this, you'll notice a whole lot of repeats from last month.  I'm sitting here thinking about what I've really liked in June and I keep going back to products that were my favorites from May so I apologize if it seems repetitive    Anyway, I'm thinking about just doing 1 item from each category.

Skincare: 

I recently started using the Kirkland Makeup remover towelettes.  I think they're comparable to MAC wipes but they're so inexpensive.  You can get 150 wipes for around $11 at Costco.  Other than that, I've still been loving my La Mer foaming cleanser and Clinique All About Eyes Rich eye cream.  

Primer: 

Lately I've really been enjoying Murad Oil Control Mattifier.  I've found that this is a necessity for the summer because it really does keep my makeup on all day.  If I don't use it under my foundation, my makeup starts to fade after about an hour.

Foundation: 

I recently raved about my Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua and since purchasing it, I have no regrets.  I ended up getting the lightest color which suits my skin tone much better than the sample that I received.  My only issue with it is the color range.  While there are 9 shades, they all seem to be pretty close to one another.  So unless you're a white girl who isn't too pale, you're not going to find anything for you in this foundation.   Other than that, it's wonderful.  I recently did the makeup for a photo shoot and I can say that it does photograph nicely without looking like makeup on your skin.

Concealer:

I've noticed that my dark circles are somewhat more apparent recently and so I've gone back to using my Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque.  The slightly pink concealer does a wonderful job of brightening up under my eyes and doesn't crease as badly as some other creamy concealers (ahem, Benefit erase paste).

Powder:
I've been using my MSF naturals to set my foundation recently.  I like that it gives just a little bit more coverage (and color) and isn't totally matte...still looks like good looking skin.  I'm not in love with it, but it beats having an oily looking face.

Blush:
I'm not completely sold on the Tarte Amazonian clay blushes but I have found myself reaching for Tipsy a lot recently.  I did end up returning the other two that I bought because Dollface didn't do anything for me at all and I have a color that is identical to Amused.  Tipsy is good though.  I don't think it lasts any longer or controls oils or anything but it's a nice color that's good for spring and summer so I do like it.

Eyeshadow:
I haven't felt like doing a whole lot with my eyeshadow recently.  I've really just been using the Urban Decay Naked Palette.  Sin on the lid, Virgin on my brow bone, Naked and Buck in the crease and Darkhorse in the outer V.  Pretty simple, very neutral, foolproof makeup.

Eyeliner:
I've actually really been loving Teddy Eye Kohl by MAC.  I don't know why I always forget about this.  It's dark enough to define your lashes but not too dark that it takes over all your makeup.  The bronzy color works really well with almost any shadow combinations too.

Mascara:
I'm still layering with my Cover Girl Lash Blash (guess that should be the real favorite) but the one I've been using more often than any other is MAC Haute and Naughty.  I like using the Naughty side (hehe) now because it has dried out some and it's not just a big clumpy mess.  This puts down the perfect amount of mascara so when I go back over it with LB, my lashes look fake which is how I like 'em.

Lips:
This is one category where I know I've been consistently wearing the same thing.  Unfortunately, the lip gloss was limited edition so it might be kind of hard to find.  The lipstick is MAC's Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Behave Yourself.  Alone, it's a little too shocking pink for me but paired with Euro Beat Dazzle Glass (a peachy coral color - Try Smile Dazzleglass instead) it's like the perfect warm peach pink color.

Brushes:
Not a whole lot new here either.  I like my 190 with my Chanel foundation.  I actually prefer this over the Sigma Foundation brush.  I'll usually put it all over my face with the 190 and then buff it in with the F80 then apply concealer with my fingers and buff that in with the F80 as well.  It's been more about function and speed recently and less about a perfect application.  Luckily, the F80 is an awesome multifunctional brush and if I could only use one, I'd pick that one.

I guess that's it for my favorites.  It's getting kind of hard to pick my favorites from my collection but I've done a bit of shopping so I think you'll see some new items next month.  Until then, I want to know what your favorites are. 

Top 10 MAC Eye Shadows

I always wonder what everyone's favorites are when it comes to makeup.  It helps me decide what I should purchase if I'm trying to decide between two different shades.  I thought I'd share mine today.  Seeing as how I am a 26 year old woman working in the business world, you'll find my list is mostly comprised of neutrals but I think that's a good thing.  More people are going to be wearing neutrals than bright colorful shadows on a daily basis.

Naked Lunch: Frost Finish

I first fell in love with this color about 3 years ago when my friend changed her hair from long curly red locks to a short, blonde, asymmetrical bob.  We went into the MAC store and she said to the MA "I just got new hair, I need new makeup.  If I like what you do, I'll buy everything you use".  Well, needless to say this was one of the colors that was used, and she loved it and then so did I.  It a soft neutral pink with shimmer and something about it just screams bridal to me.




Blanc Type: Matte2 finish

This is my perfect brow highlight because it is my skin color.  If I want a really quick and easy look I'll sweep this from my lashes to my brows and contour with a light matte brown in the crease and I'm good to go.  I look polished but not over done.  I love how blend-able this is and how it can tame crease colors that have wandered a little too far north.  It's like an eraser/blending color all in one.





Saddle: Matte Finish

I use Saddle as my crease color with almost every neutral look.  It's a warmer brown that gives depth to my eyes creating a crease that I do not actually have.  This is also a pretty good brow color for me since my hair is sort of auburn right now.







Woodwinked: Veluxe Pearl Finish

Has anyone used this color and not loved it?  Veluxe Pearl and Matte2 are my favorite finishes from MAC because they blend well.  It is a beautiful dark gold metallic color.  I like this shade because of its versatility.  This can be used as a lid color, crease color, eye liner or even an inner corner highlight for darker skin tones.






Expensive Pink: Veluxe Pearl Finish

Expensive Pink is a green eye'd girl's best friend.  The peachy pink color is the perfect shade to bring out green or blue eyes.  I like pairing this with cooler plum colors in the crease for a colorful smoky eye.  I always get compliments when I wear this shade.








Sable: Frost Finish

I think frost eyeshadows are either hit or miss.  Some are very pigmented and smooth like Veluxe Pearl and some are a little chalky and kind of hard to really pack on the color.  Sable falls into the former category.  It is a brown with a slightly plum undertone that adds a little punch to a neutral eye.  I love this shade in the crease and as eye liner.






Tempting: Luster Finish

I'm usually not crazy about Lusters because the pigmentation can be poor and they tend to have a lot of fall out but that is not the case with Tempting.  I love this color for a deep brown smoky eye.  It's pigmented enough that it's worth dealing with any potential fall out (although fall out is very minimal with this shade).  I like wearing this on the lower lash line in lieu of eyeliner because it gives great definition with just a little bit of shimmer.





Sketch: Velvet

I like to use Sketch as an eyeliner or to deepen up the crease when I'm doing a purple eye.  I like that it's slightly softer and warmer than using black but still packs enough punch for a great smokey eye.








Steamy: Frost

I rarely like to use cool colors like blues or greens on my eyes because they do not compliment them very well.  Steamy is the exception but only when I use it as an eyeliner on my lower lashes.  This is my shadow of choice to pump up any neutral eye look.  I usually layer with a blue or green liner underneath and Steamy will either take on blue or green tones depending on the base.





Satin Taupe: Frost

I kind of always thought that I didn't like this color or it didn't suit me well because it's such a cool brown but whenever I wear it (usually as a smokey eye), I always love it.  I keep this in my blues and greens pallet so I often forget I even have it and therefore rarely use it.  It was the first MAC eyeshadow I ever bought and I can see why it's one of those must own colors.  I like it because it is so wearable and actually compliments any skin tone.





What are your favorite eyeshadows, MAC or otherwise.  I really do like seeing what other people are into and why.

Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua

So I was in the mall last weekend and wanted to pick up another sample of the Pro Lumiere because I'm still kind of on the fence about it.  I like how it looks but I'm not sure if I'm ready to commit yet.  I was talking to the Sales Girl and she was telling me that Chanel is going to be doing away with Pro Lumiere in September to reformulate it and fix all the issues people have with it.  Good news on that front because I'd be sold on it if it would stay on my face.  On that note I decided to ask for samples of the Matte Lumiere and Vita Lumiere Aqua.  I've heard good things about Vita Lumiere Aqua but wasn't sure on specifics.  The Sales assistant went through the whole deal where they ask you about your skin and what kind of coverage you're looking for (oily and full coverage) and she determined that Matte Lumiere is the one for me but gave me samples of the Vita Lumiere which is supposed to be a fairly sheer coverage.  I left without purchasing either because I wanted to test them out at home before taking the plunge and I can say I'm very happy I did.  I have yet to try the Matte Lumiere because I love the Vita Lumiere Aqua so much!  It gives flawless coverage, keeps my oily skin in check, looks natural, doesn't transfer, and is long wearing.  I wore it for about 12 hours in 85° today and still had to wash my face twice with my Clarisonic to get it off.

Dear Chanel Vita Lumiere,

Would you like to permanently join my makeup collection as my holy grail foundation?

I think that was a yes!

$45 Nordstrom.com

May Favorites

Sorry this is going up so late.  I think my sister and her boyfriend and son are going to be moving in shortly so I've been a little preoccupied with that and work and trying to find a part time job...whew, I'm busy!!!

Anyway, On to the good stuff!!!

Skincare:

$65 Nordstrom.com

I recently ran out of my beloved MAC Lightful Foaming Face Wash and needed a replacement.  I decided to splurge and buy La Mer's Foaming Face Wash.  As with the MAC cleanser, a little goes a long way and it is perfectly suited for my Clarisonic Mia.  I love the scent of it which reminds me of luxurious perfumes and elegant older women.  My skin feels so smooth after using this - tight but not dry, just well balanced and smooth.

My favorite eye cream is still Clinique's All About Eyes Rich.  I can say that I have seen a decrease in dark circles under my eyes since I've been using this.  It sinks into your skin without feeling greasy and leaves a nice base for my under eye products.  I haven't seen any decrease in wrinkles but I haven't noticed any new ones for that matter either.  I use this morning and night immediately after washing my face.

$78 Nordstrom.com

The next product that I'm going to talk about is something new that I've been trying for about 3 weeks.  I've put a noticeable dent in it too.  It's the Osmotics Kinetin Cellular Renewal Serum.  My boyfriend got this as a freebee from work and I quickly snatched it up (he has a baby face, what does he want with anti aging serums anyway).  It is supposed to help repair the signs of sun damage and promote a brighter complexion.  Since using this, I have noticed a decrease in breakouts and have noticed that my acne scars are disappearing.  I use this morning and night after my Clinique eye cream. 

Face:

$35 Origins.com

The next item has been a staple in my makeup routine (or skincare routine...however you want to categorize it) and that would be Origins Vitazing.  I was never a believer in color adapting makeup because I simply could not understand how something that started out white could suit so many skin tones.  After hearing all the hype around this product I decided to go into an Origins store to check it out for myself.  Low and behold, the same product that was rubbed on to the back of my hand and changed to match my skintone did the exact same thing to the sales assistant who was significantly darker than I am.  I love that no matter how pale or tan I become, I can use this.  It also gives surprisingly good coverage for a tinted moisturizer.  I'll wear this with a little concealer and powder for an everyday makeup look or under my airbrush makeup for a little more coverage.  Either way, it's a new staple in my makeup collection.

The next product I was also pretty skeptical about when it first hit the shelves and that is the Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller.  This little baby packs all sorts of skin nourishing ingredients and a little pigment to really banish your dark circles.  The roller ball applicator is also soothing on tired eyes and instantly helps to perk them up.  It's lightweight enough that it won't look caky under your eyes and can be reapplied on top of finished makeup for a mid day pickup should you need it (not that I ever do).


Another favorite of mine is a repeat from a previous month.  MAC's Mineralize Skinfinsh in Shimpagne is a beautiful shimmery highlight color that gives dimension back to your face once all the foundation and powder have taken it all away.  Although I have oily skin, I don't feel as though I'm finished until this is applied to the tops of my cheek bones.  Some products emphasize pore size but I have not had a problem with Shimpagne doing that.  I do however try to keep it away from the area right around my nose where my pores are the largest.

$19.50 maccosmetics.com

Lately I've been opting for more neutral blushers like MAC's Pinch O Peach blush as opposed to more coral or pinker shades.  This seems to compliment any look without going over the top.  I also like that it's a more matte finish so I don't look like an oil slick by the end of the day.  I'm all about the glow but I like to add it in strategic places that do not include my entire cheek.

No surprise here...Holy Grail Bronzer has to be Benefit Hoola.  I might not even consider this a bronzer so much as a contour color.  It seems to mimic the color of natural shadows on my face which I prefer to warmer toned bronzers.  I also like that it doesn't have any shimmers to it whatsoever so that it can be used on my forehead as well as under my cheek bones.

The next item is something that I've been kicking myself for not purchasing when it initially came out last September and that is the MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder in Truth and Light.  It's slightly shimmery but not enough that you look like a Cullen when you step out into the sunlight.  The cold feeling of it is refreshing when you want to touch up on a day like today (102° WHAT!!!).  Don't be fooled by the drugstore version of this either.  Revlon's Colorstay Aqua is almost $40/oz, Almay's Wake Up Makeup is $37/oz where as MAC's Magically Cool Liquid Powder is $35/oz.  Drugstore does not alway mean cheaper.  I use this over top of my face powder to refresh my skin.  Despite being 70% water and having a subtle shimmer to it, it does manage to mattify my skin when I'm looking a little oily.

$29.50 maccosmetics.com

Eyes:

As the weather has been getting warmer, I've opted to use a more bronzy pallet on my eyes.  The perfect base for that is none other than MAC's Paint Pot in Indian Wood.  I like the subtle glow it provides to any shadow applied on top of it.  Although I've found that this particular Paint Pot creases more than any others I own, I do find that using Urban Decay's Primer Potion underneath does help combat this a little.

$18 Sephora.com

Since my project 10 pan, I've decided that I am going to use shadows that I don't normally grab for and so I've let my MAC pallets and Naked Pallet have a little break.  I have fallen back in love with Stila eyeshadows - My favorites being Kitten, and Golightly.  These two shadows paired with a little Woodwinked and Indian Wood create the perfect glowy bronze eye.  I have also opted to use my NYX Jumbo Shadow Pencil in Milk in the inner corner of my eye (topped with Kitten) to open my eyes up and create a nice highlight.

Topping my bronzy eye look off is MAC's Smolder pencil and MUFE Smokey Lash Mascara.  In my last favorites I loved layering Fresh Supernova with my Covergirl Lash Blast mascara but I'd found that about halfway through the day, I'd had some mascara run off under my eyes.  Smokey Lash does not leave my lashes feeling as conditioned as Supernova but at least I know it's staying put.  It is also the blackest mascara I have ever used in my life and creates beautifully thick and long lashes in just two coats.

Lips:

Though I'm not a big believer in lip pencils I have opted to use MAC's Trimmed in Pink Lip pencil almost every day this month.  I like the bright pink color similar to Lustering lipstick.  I often pair this with a more nude color to tone it down so it's more wearable during the day.  My favorites are Hue by MAC or MAC's tinted lip conditioner + Lavender in Calm Mode.

Well that's about it for everything.  You won't be seeing many hauls coming up because I am poor and honestly, I've got enough for a while.  I think that'll give me time to do more reviews, face of the days, and maybe even a tutorial.  Let me know what you think of any of these products if you've tried them.

§

Collective Haul - Sephora, Origins, E.L.F., Clinique.

After months of not buying makeup I decided to treat myself one last time before I hand over all my extra cash to get new tires for my car :(.  I went to the mall today to have lunch with my boyfriend and also decided to pick up a couple things while I was there.

My first stop was Sephora to check out the new Amazonian Clay blushes from Tarte.  These are said to control oil and last for 12 hours so they sounded like they were right up my alley.  I went into the Sephora and made a beeline for the Tarte section and was kind of overwhelmed by the Amazonian Clay blushes because of all the beautiful colors...which were kind of similar to one another.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to get Dollface or Amused because they were so similar and I was afraid Dollface would be too light.  I ended up bringing both to the register and asking the cashier to just pick one for me.  She ended up going with Amused which is a bright pink.  I have to say I'm relieved that she did because it is unique to anything I have in my collection.  I also picked up Tipsy because I am a sucker for coral blushes and this was the one I really had my eye on.

$25 Sephora.com

While wandering around trying to decide on blush I noticed that they had the Urban Decay Primer Potion in the new tube.  I'm almost out of the little sample that came with the Naked Pallet and this is my favorite eye primer so I figured I'd pick it up because I am doing makeup for a wedding next month and this is much more sanitary and cost effective than the old genie bottle style.

$19 Sephora.com

After that it was on to Macy's to get a back up of my Origins Vitazing.  I'm so happy I was turned on to this.  It is my new favorite cosmetic item.  I like that it doesn't feel like I'm wearing anything and just evens out my complexion without looking overdone.  Granted, I still need a lot of concealer because of my acne scars but on the areas that don't need concealing, like my forehead and the middle of my face, it looks like I just have naturally radiant skin.

$35 Origins.com

As I was walking back through Nordstrom with my boyfriend on my way to the car I realized that I had forgotten to buy my eye makeup remover.  After a quick trip to the Clinique counter to pick up "Take the Day Off" we were on our way.  I have used a lot of eye makeup removers in the past but I've found that this one does the best job of getting it all off.  It also doesn't sting at all or cause me any breakouts but leaves my eye area feeling nourished but not greasy.

$18 Nordstrom.com

After I left the mall I stopped in at Target because I still had some time to kill and there was one on the way home.  This particular Target happened to carry e.l.f. products so I immediately picked up the e.l.f. studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder.  How is this thing only $3?  The packaging itself is high enough quality to warrant a higher price tag let alone the amazing product inside of it.  Seriously, $1.50 each for blush and bronzer!!!  Anyway, in case you can't tell I'm really psyched to give this one a try.  I'm hoping to buy a new brush belt from e.l.f. next month so hopefully the whole brand is as good as this duo.

$3 (seriously!!!) eyeslipsface.com

Well that's it for my haul.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Let me know if you've tried any of these items and what your thoughts are.  I'd really like to know if all of the products by e.l.f.  are as amazing as this one.  

Upcoming Posts:

May Favorites

Comparison/Review: MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder and Revlon Color Stay Aqua mineral foundation

Review - Milani HD Concealer

As promised, I'm going to review the Milani HD Concealer.  I purchased this product in February and I wanted to  it a good try to before I decided to review it.

First off, here's what Milani has to say about their concealer.

"HD Advance Concealer click pen covers imperfections, dark circles, with a weightless, good-for-your-skin liquid formula that leaves a natural finish as it brightens with a soft focus for flawless skin."

"Click pen to dispense product on brush. Apply product underneath eyes to cover dark circles. Brush-on eyelids and inner corners to brighten up the eyes. Lightly brush product over any blemish and or imperfection to instantly conceal."

$8.49 (CVS.com)

Nice idea but it definitely missed the mark.  The coverage just isn't there.   I can't imagine this being a useful product for anyone that doesn't have perfect skin.  It does not brighten (unless you count creating a scary white streak where it is applied) and it doesn't stay where you put it.  It's not a total loss though because the color I purchased was way too light so I can use it under my makeup to highlight before applying foundation and mix it with a darker concealer to create the perfect color for my skin.  Over all, I am not a fan of this product.  I had hoped it would be a similar product to YSL's Touche Eclat but the only similarities they have is the click pen dispenser.  

April Foundation Routine

Since I said I wasn't going to be doing an April favorites post I thought I'd at least include one part of my makeup routine that has changed a bit.  Shortly after I finished my project 10 pan, I decided to go and purchase a few products that I've heard rave reviews about because I felt that the products I had were missing something.  While I like my airbrush very much and am happy with the OCC foundation that I bought once I'd used up the Luminess foundation that came with my kit, I found that I still felt like I was missing something.  Airbrush foundation is not as fast or as easy as you'd think it'd be.  You still have to use concealer and powder and it does not last all day like they say it does.  That being said, I do not regret purchasing the airbrush and it will be a part of my daily routine from here on out.  

Fresh Faced.  I'm a brave girl for putting my naked face on the internet

I purchased the Origins Vitazing about 3 weeks ago and have been loving it.  It's one of those tinted moisturizer/foundations that start out white and react with your skin to change to the perfect color.  It's not fantastic coverage but it's good enough to start off with.  

Origins Vitazing 

All blended in

Once I have that rubbed in, I mix a little of the Vichy Dermablend foundation with my MAC Pro Longwear concealer (to adjust the color so it'll match my skin) and apply that to places that I need a little more coverage.  I then tap my Sigma F82 over the concealer to blend it into my skin.

Concealer

Blended in

Once that is on, I put about 6 drops of foundation into my airbrush gun and go over everything to ensure a seamless makeup application.

Airbrush

I then use the Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller to cover my dark circles.  This product is amazing!!  It's lightweight but conceals so well that I don't even need another under eye concealer after this.  I love that it doesn't sink into fine lines and never ever looks caky.  The best part is that if it does start to fade (which doesn't happen to me for at least 6 hours) you can reapply on top of your makeup and it doesn't look like there's layers and layers of concealer under your eyes.

Garnier Anti Dark Circle Roller

BLEND!!!

I then pat a translucent powder into my skin with a powder puff and apply Bare Minerals well rested under my eyes with my Sigma E40 and I'm ready to apply the rest of my makeup.  I know it seems like a lot of work but it doesn't take as long as it sounds.

All Powdered 

 I find that doing it this way gives me a very natural looking full coverage that lasts all day and that's all I want out of my makeup.

Add a little color and light back to your face and here's the finished product

I'm really happy with the results mostly because it lasts all day.  I don't have to worry about my makeup fading and it never ends up looking caky.  Towards the end of the day some oil does start to show through but it's nothing like it used to be.  I spend most of the day looking pore less and like I have naturally amazing skin.

Anyway, I hope you've found this helpful.  Let me know if you've tried any of the products mentioned and what you think of them and tell me if there are any tips or tricks that you have found that you love. 

Update

This is my favorite picture of him.
He is only 2 days old and so beautiful

OMG!  It has been over a month since I've posted anything but I think I have a good excuse.  Tomorrow my BEAUTIFUL nephew Christopher will be one month old.  I've spent a lot of time at my parents' house in Delaware visiting my sister and her new baby boy and they've spent some time at my house visiting our family in Maryland.  I finally have my house back and can get back into the swing of things.  I work from home and my boyfriend works during the day so I get to spend a lot of quality time with myself doing what I want to do.  It's a huge shock to have someone around you all the time especially when it's my sister's boyfriend who isn't exactly clear on my personal space rules and will talk to you while you're walking into the bathroom and continue to talk after the door is closed.  Oh well, sacrifices must be made to be able to spend time with my family.  On that note, I am so in love with my nephew.  He is the sweetest most well behaved newborn I have ever met and that's saying something considering how crazy his parents are.  I love my sisters but both of them are certifiable.

I haven't really been buying makeup or wearing a whole lot for that matter so I won't be doing an April favorites because there's nothing new to report on.  I did finish my project 10 pan - mostly because I only brought makeup that needed to be used up when I traveled in April so there weren't a lot of options.  It was kind of anti-climatic.  I didn't even realize that I had used up 10 products until I got back home and went to put some stuff in my Back To MAC bag.  I do feel relieved to have used up 10 things but I'm not sure that I really learned anything.  I did end up giving my older sister a big tote of products that I don't use anymore which still did not put a noticeable dent in my stash.  Conclusion - I have too much makeup and must learn to use up more products (mostly MSFs) before deciding to buy something new.  I can say that I do not have any urges to buy any more products at this point as I am very happy with my current routine.

Anyway, there's lots of posts coming up in the near future.  I have a foundation routine I'm very happy with that include a few new products that I consider my holy grail products.  I'm testing out some new skincare as well as receiving facials so I'm going to write about my experience with that as I go through it.