Category Archives: Buying Stuff

Mar16

Buying Stuff: Blush Edition

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Dianna

You won’t even believe what I’ve been up to. Remember that time not too long ago where I was addicted to makeup and bought Tom Ford lipstick for $50 because that made perfect logical sense? Well, of course it still does cuz you can’t fix crazy that easily, but that is not the point of this post. The point is that I now own almost 600 bottles of nail polish and I’m thinking I probably need like 94576946 more. Give or take.

Who am I?!

While you contemplate, let’s talk about some blush I bought. I’ve been using these for the past few months, and I have some things to say. Probably nothing that interesting, but let’s just pretend, shall we? You read this blog for a reason and most likely it’s not for the scientific value.

First up is the NARS Dual Intensity blush in the shade Fervor:

This is the prettiest one out of the bunch in my opinion. The darker pink is so shimmery and practically metallic, that only someone blind could turn their back on it. The lighter pink is more of a highlight, as it doesn’t lend too much color payoff – if any at all. However, as a whole, it’s pretty. I swirl my brush over both colors so the light pink doesn’t feel left out. And despite the intense foil of the dark pink, you don’t end up with prostitute-y cheeks like you’d expect. You don’t get much product on your brush, especially if you use one with loose bristles. That could be a good or bad thing depending on what you’re going for.

Something else about these blushes is they could also be used wet. That sounds like a lot of effort, and honestly, I’m not getting up any earlier in the morning just so I can apply my dry blush wet. But apparently it gives you a more high-impact flush. If you’re into that, then by all means. If you’re like me (i.e., lazy), we’ll just move on.

I bought these two Colourpop Super Shock blushes in shades Pre-Nup (pink) and Between the Sheets (peach):

And I freaking love them. They’re like 8 dollars, which proves you don’t need to spend your paycheck on fancy names just to get something quality. Never mind that comment on the Tom Ford lipstick.

These are cream blushes and super easy to use. I don’t know about you, but cream blushes give me the hives. They make me nervous. There’s a point of no return as soon as your fingers hit your cheek. Either it’s going to turn out fabulous or you’re forced to sport clown cheeks all day – there’s nothing in between. You get like 1.2967 seconds to blend as if your life depended on it (it does), and if you fail, the color is locked in place in whatever direction you’ve left it. Aaaack! I cannot deal with that kind of pressure. I may start blending with every intention of continuing to blend, but I get sidetracked easily. In other words, I need locked in a window-less room so I can do things properly.

So if you suck at cream blush, try these. Buy yourself a stipple brush, like the small one from e.l.f. or the pretty pink one from Real Techniques. They are your saving grace, trust me. Swirl the brush in the product and then onto your cheeks as if you are applying powder. It’s magical. The fear is gone. You’ll never shy away from cream blush again.

Anyway, back to the point (there is one), these Colourpop blushes are awesome. My favorite is Pre-Nup, the pink one. It looks so natural and lovely on the cheeks. I highly recommend it, especially if you have a hard time picking. Just toss this in your cart and be done with it. You can thank me by reading this blog and following me on Instagram. Or sending gift cards.

Sometimes I have a severe lack of judgement. Behold, the By Terry Terrybly Densiliss blush in Nude Dance:

I can’t even excuse myself because I used a coupon cuz I absolutely did not. I paid $70 for this for no other apparent reason than clinical insanity. In my quest to own all the things I’ve gone mental. Who buys a blush for $70? Crazy people and billionaires. That’s it.

In my defense, this blush is STUNNING. Everything about it from packaging to final result is top notch. The silver metal compact weighs about 10 pounds (probably) and feels so substantial in your hand. Like if you just want to know how much luxury weighs, then go hold a By Terry blush for a second. Good gracious, it’s fancy. Even the little blush brush it comes with is quite precious. I’ll never use it, but it’s precious nonetheless. The blush itself is a very flattering nude peachy pink. It lasts all day long and looks completely natural and glowy. I really do love it. But is it worth the $70 price tag? Welllllllll, you can most definitely find something you love that is cheaper. But if you just want to own a piece of artwork, I’d say $70 is a pretty good deal. Serious, hold the compact in your hand. You’ll understand.

Next up is the Stila Aqua Glow Watercolor blush in Water Lily:

This is an interesting product as you can see from the pictures. I will admit the uniqueness of it is the only reason I forced myself into using a liquid blush – a billion times scarier than using a cream blush. But the word “watercolor” got me and the little mesh screen that separates the product from the outside word sucked me right in.

I haven’t used this as much as I thought I might. It’s not difficult as expected – due 100% to the fact I used a stipple brush to apply it. A little goes a very long way, so be careful. But it just wasn’t as exciting as my imagination made it out to be. The color is beautiful – you see that gold sheen? – but once it’s on your cheeks, it’s pretty sheer and kind of appeared flat on me. It does last all day (it’s pretty much a stain), but other than that it’s been collecting a nice sheen of dust for the last few months.

Here is Marc Jacobs Shameless Bold Blush in Irresistible:

Look at that gorgeous orange! It’s definitely a bold, fun color. But how does it look on the cheeks? Well, it’s certainly not this vibrant – which is a good thing unless you bought it for a specific Halloweeny-slash-Clown-Disguise type situation. In fact, it’s so subtle, I about broke a brush in it trying to pick up product. That’s an exaggeration but only slight. It’s truly a vague wash of color; nothing drastic. I like it but it definitely makes you work for it.

And now, last but not least: the Becca mineral blush in Songbird:

Now THIS is a pretty blush! Don’t you just want to dip your aqua-tipped fingers in it? I do (and might still). This is possibly my absolute favorite. It’s pretty neutral but also warm. I’m on the medium side of light, and this flatters my skin tone very much. It’s pigmented but buildable. And it’s enriched with antioxidants so it’s healthy for you! There are 6 colors in the line, but this one is by far the best one. Trust me: I’m an expert.

And I know ya’ll are staring at my nail polish and also maybe the chipped parts and the hang nail. Number one, I’ve had lots of practice since this photo was taken and now my nails look like they need their own insurance policy (cuz they are moneymakers). And number two, you can go buy this polish from Live Love Polish by clicking here. It’s Floss Gloss in the shade Wet and it is fabulous.

Well that’s it guys. My first blog post in eons. Hope you enjoyed it and you read all the way to the bottom like a true friend. I’m going to start doing more nail polish reviews and swatch photos on here because I have to justify lining my 3rd bedroom’s walls with polish racks – otherwise, hubby doesn’t understand the purpose of 600 bottles. Why, I have no clue. Cuz he bought an elliptical. For exercising. So everything that happens after immediately gets a pass. Sorry, them’s the rules.

Back soon!

Jul16

Buying Stuff: Episode 26

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Dianna

Standard

Insider Tip #257: When you go to your annual skin check at the Dermatologist’s office, plan ahead and make sure you’re wearing your nice underwear. Because regardless of who is looking at you almost naked, it’s less uncomfortable if you’re not sporting a baggy, pilled-up cotton, 6-year-old pair of underpants. Not that I know firsthand or anything, I just randomly thought of it and figured it’d be a handy little tip worth sharing.

Look, I bought eyeshadow!

This is the Givenchy Prisme Quatuor eyeshadow quad in #7 Tentation and IT. IS. TERRIBLE. It is also the only time I’ve ever received something that I put actual effort towards returning. Well, would you spend $58 on something that doesn’t work AT ALL and then store it away under your bathroom counter for the next 15 years? I mean, I would cuz I’m ridiculous, but would YOU? Cuz when you’re Givenchy there’s a certain expectation to uphold, and this was not it. Pigmentation was seriously lacking; even the glittery green looked muddy and matte on the eyelid. These colors should have been beautiful. And for once, the reviews on the Sephora site agrees with me. I can’t speak for the other quads, however, but Buyer Beware. This also has a six month shelf life, so what started out bad just got worse.

And now for a high quality, professional photograph:

Hush. I know. In my defense, I accidentally deleted the pic off my phone so I had to screenshot it from my Instagram, then crop it. I went to a lot of trouble to present it for you. Even more trouble when I tell you I’ve only used it one time.

I’m having bad luck with eyeshadow palettes lately, especially ones from designers. However, this Tory Burch one in Cat’s Meow isn’t as bad as the Givenchy. All of these shades had pigmentation, but the payoff wasn’t as impressive as I thought they’d be. Surprisingly, the two darker shades on the bottom looked about the same on my eyelid even though they clearly are not. The tones of them are more muted than vibrant, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on what you prefer. They give you a more smoky effect than anything else, and they kind of wore off my eyeball by the end of the day (even with primer). I am going to pull it out again this week and have another stab at it. It cost me $60 so something tells me it’s the right thing to do.

I need to stop buying expensive eyeshadow palettes. Case in point:

It’s the NARS Dual Intensity eyeshadow palette and it cost $79, which is clear evidence I make very poor decisions. Yes, it’s pretty. Yes, it’s limited edition (and therefore puts me in a brainwashed kind of panic). But pigmentation on these is not as vibrant like you’d expect and I don’t find myself reaching for it much if at all ever. The shadows can be used wet or dry, and when wet they do give off a much better, bolder color. But who wants to be messing around with water in their eyeshadow? Cuz although this palette is made to get wet, I’d somehow manage to ruin it.

These are pretty:

This is an eye look I created using the Colourpop Supershock eyeshadows in the Shaaanxo collection. I will admit I bought this because I watch Shaaanxo on YouTube, and if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I do everything YouTube tell me to do. So these eyeshadows are interesting. First of all, they’re like $5 so super affordable. But they are unlike any other eyeshadow I’ve ever had. They are like a cream/powder hybrid. They are kind of wet like a cream, a bit squishy when you poke your finger into them (the fun part!), but you can apply them like powder. Granted, your fingers are the best tools to use with these shadows, but have you ever tried to blend your inner corner with a ginormous sausage finger? It’s nigh on impossible. I stick with brushes and somehow make it work.

More evidence that YouTube has made me its bitch:

What normal person has heard of Viseart cosmetics? Nobody. Unless you are a makeup artist – a real one, not one of those pretend ones on Instagram. So when I saw another of my Beauty Gurus swatching this Sultry Muse palette – who then had the audacity to tell me where I could go buy one of my very own since Sephora decided to do us all a favor and start carrying the line – I took about 1.5 seconds to think about it before I threw it in the shopping cart. And yes, they are gorgeous. They are everything you’d want an eyeshadow to be – buttery, pigmented, blendable. So naturally they cost a billion dollars (or $80, but close enough). Can’t say I’m too regretful. I don’t mind spending money on something I like. I’d rather get it for free, but if that’s not available, what choice do I have? Sephora is constantly out of stock on these – they are very much an in demand product. Which means you are panicking and NEED TO BUY ONE RIGHT AWAY. Or maybe that’s just what my brain does.

How about another photo of my eye:

I did not hear good things about the Hourglass Modernist eyeshadow palettes but I just felt like spending $58 on something. One thing for sure, the pattern molded into the palette is enough to suck you in. I love how ripple-y it looks. When I saw that, nothing else mattered. Is that shallow? Probably.

There are 7 palettes in the collection and I picked Color Field, the green one. Amidst the flurry of no-pigmentation claims, I created the eye look you see above and I was quite impressed. I thought there was plenty of pigmentation, and everything blended together so nicely. Perhaps some of the other palettes are not as good, but Color Field worked just fine. Granted, I used it just one time then stored it under my bathroom counter never to be see again, but THAT IS NOT THE POINT.

Speaking of pigmentation, I give you these:

Do you hear angels? I do. These are the Makeup Geek Foiled eyeshadows and they are the best most pigmented, vibrant, luscious eyeshadows on the face of the planet. This is not a joke. One gentle swipe is all you need for maximum payoff. They have an almost wet texture to them – apparently they have a higher oil content – and certain brushes give you better application. The MAC #239 or any of its dupes works really well. Or you can use your fingers, but again I don’t prefer that method. If you don’t have the MAC one or a dupe, any shader brush that has dense bristles will work.

There are a couple of cons though. The price for one eyeshadow is $10 so if you want to own the entire current collection, that’s $200 out of your pocket. I’m not saying I spent the last few months buying every single Makeup Geek eyeshadow available or anything, but I probably did. It didn’t hurt as bad until I got to the foiled shadows. Ouchie. But once I start on a project, I literally have to finish it because my OCD says so. Yes, I’m quite aware I have a problem.

The other con is these shadows are very delicate and can crumble on you with no warning. I swear I haven’t been throwing them around the room – they’ve been sitting gently in a Z-Palette the entire time – but two of my shadows have random chunks coming out of them. Not a huge deal since you can just press them back into the pan, but it is kind of annoying. And since they are $10 each, any crumb missing might as well be the Hope Diamond or something.

Let’s end on a bummer, shall we?

Who wants to buy a palette that looks like a quilt on the inside? Me! And who wants to pay $96 for it? Me! Wait … wait?! I have no idea what I was thinking when I bought the By Terry Eye Designer palette but I’m pretty sure it has 97.93766% to do with that stupid pattern stamped into the eyeshadow. Who’s the most ridiculous person on the planet? I’m not even gonna answer that question cuz you already know.

These are new and come in two styles. I bought the #2 Color Design because of the vibrant fun colors. And yes, it is a beauty to look at. And makes a very cool Instagram photo as evident by the 81 likes it’s currently received. But good gracious it’s pricey! And to be honest, I don’t think it’s worth it. Sure it looks fancy, but I did not find the pigmentation on any of these to be particularly good. Or not $96 worth of good. And I don’t know about you, but if I’m spending that much money on anything, it bygod better be the best thing that’s ever been invented. I’m keeping it until I die though because I figure eventually I’ll use it at least one more time by then. Hashtag JUSTIFIED.

In case you haven’t noticed but I’m extremely behind this month already. What is time? Where does it go? I dunno, guys. Sometimes I just paint my nails for three hours in the evening instead of doing something important. Although painting my nails is pretty important, but I imagine my husband thinks scooping cat poop is more important. He is WRONG. Bye Friends!

May7

Buying Stuff: Episode 25

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Dianna

Standard

I’m addicted to following manicured nail pictures on Instagram. But not just any manicure – I only want to look at perfect ones with square cut nails and tidy cuticles. They soothe my soul like nothing else. Or like a Xanax maybe. And because of this new found insanity, I have become inspired to paint my nails more often. Like I want to be one of those girls with perfect square cut nails and tidy cuticles. I want to soak my fingers in a bowl of warm olive oil too. I want someone to suck all the fat out of my thighs. That last one has nothing to do with a manicure, but if someone could get that arranged, that’d be great.

I bought stuff! Let’s look:

Picked up this Besame Brightening Violet Powder because of its adorable 50s-era packaging. It literally looks as if it walked right off the pages of an old Avon catalog. Precious! Back when I bought it, Sephora just started carrying the brand and this was the single solitary item it offered. Now they have two other versions of the powder. The idea behind the violet one is that it will brighten up sallow skin – and it may simply be psychological brain trickery for all I know – but I’d swear it does just that. The violet tone is translucent but lends a skosh of something special. It will never appear obviously powdered, but you’ll know it’s there. Everyone else will assume you had a face lift.

One look and you’ll know why I got this:

It’s the Sigma Lip Switch in the shade Flip Flop and it’s pretty much the raddest thing you’ve ever seen. Check out that magical iridescence! It gives me heart eyes immediately. But of course something this awesome can never live up to expectations because that is how my life works. Cuz once it’s applied to the lips, it pretty much disappears. It’s glossy, yes, but if you want that vibrant orange/gold/pinky shift, you will have to look elsewhere. You get it faintly at best.

I have seen some Instagram pics where people would wear black or navy lipstick and then apply these holo lipglosses and the iridescence shows up much better. But ask me how many times I’ve worn black lipstick. I could count on one hand the number of times. Actually if I had ZERO hands, I could still count the number of times. Basically what I’m saying is for now I wear this as a sheer lipgloss over my coral or orange lipsticks. It serves a purpose. Not a very special one, but there ya go.

Not one to be left off the bandwagon, I bought this along with 97.95764% of the rest of the world:

It’s the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (in the light/medium version), a product I didn’t really need much less know how to use but I bought anyway because if it’s a bestseller, I WANT IT. Same goes for pretty much anything else in life. Your Oscar-nominated movie is spoken entirely in French and with no subtitles? No problem! Your Pulitzer Prize-winning book is a 700-page diatribe set in war-torn Prussia in the 17th century and most likely to cause eye spasms and involuntary napping? GIMME. I just refuse to not be in the know. But also, I can obsess like it’s my damn job. I couldn’t have walked away from this highly talked about product even if I had my feet on backwards. You cannot deny this kind of magnetism. The struggle is REAL.

So now that I have it, I’ve been making myself use it. And I’m really trying, I swear. I contour, I bronze, I highlight and set my under eye. But I haven’t been that impressed. I mean, it’s not a bad palette, but I don’t feel the need to hoard it or protect it with my life (cuz I will cut you over a couple of my foundations, so I know it’s possible). The highlight (shimmery) shade is really pretty, but all the rest for me are take its or leave its. However, I OWN THE DANG THING, and that’s what’s most important anyway.

How about something pretty:

I die! It’s the Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. lipstick in Coachella Coral and it is summer in a tube. It’s has a delicious, creamy formula, stunning color, and decent longevity. Even smells good. What’s not to love? Okay, maybe the $32 price tag. But it’s just so pretty. I was helpless, I admit. Plus, if you never use it and just pull it out of your purse when people walk by, then it’ll last forever. And really, isn’t that the point of designer makeup – to see and be seen? Obviously yes.

Another hyped up product by YouTube:

I was able to resist buying the Gerard Cosmetics BB Plus Illumination Cream until I watched this stupid/amazing makeup tutorial and decided I had to have it about 2.5 seconds later. Well, you know how it is. If I even think there’s one iota of a chance I can have flawless, beautiful skin just like in the video, then it could be dog poo in a jar but I’m all over it anyway. Please and thank you.

So about this stuff. It’s pure liquid gold. Seriously. You put it all over your face and holy moly, you shine like brand new money. Apply your foundation on top and then sit back to enjoy the view. It has such a stunning effect. Foundation looks more flawless. There is a radiance that is subtle but noticeable. No shimmer, just glow. Ugh, I love it. You can also use it alone if you want to dab some on your cheekbones or shoulders. Or you can do a drop mixed with your moisturizer or foundation for something lighter. Whichever way you go with it, you’re bound to love it.

Pointless Makeup Product #272:

It’s the YSL Tint in Oil, and if you just went Tint in Oil?! then we are best friends and you can continue reading this blog. It sounds really fascinating except that it’s not. It’s just a lip oil so we can all just go sit back down. There is nothing to see here.

But if you must know. I got mine in the shade Drive Me Copper. As you can see from the swatch, it’s not very coppery. Nor is it very any other color. It’s a tint – I get that – but you can literally swatch it next to the other colors in the line and wouldn’t be able to tell a difference between any of them. However, I can say a couple of good things about the product because I like to make an effort sometimes. It’s slick and shiny, so it would make a nice glossy topper for any lip color. It has a sticky factor of zero. And when worn alone it feels nice and comforting. But if you’re expecting something special in terms of a product with actual copper color (or any color), this one gets a big o raspberry.

And then there was this:

I hit pan on my teeny tiny Bare Minerals Touch-Up Veil setting powder, and it sent me into a panic. International Powder Crisis and whatnot. You know how it goes. So I immediately went in search of another setting powder that I could store in my purse and apply at work after I do my mid-afternoon blotting. The Bare Minerals one is matte, which is all well and good, but I wanted to try something different. A glow powder. And what better way to do it than with the Too Faced Candlelight Powder.

I’m not very good at glow powder. Either that or I expected more than I should. Cuz I didn’t get that “lit from within” candlelight glow I was thinking I’d get. Instead, I got glitter and sparkle. I’m too old for glitter and sparkle. I had read reviews prior to purchasing, and let’s just say SHUT UP with your soft-focus, your illuminates complexion, and your inspired by actual candlelight cuz none of those things happened and my heart is broken. It claims to be absolutely invisible, and while it is translucent, there is definite shimmer on your face. Okay, okay, it’s not out at the club shimmer, but still. I’m gonna keep playing around with it. Maybe it’ll grow on me. I mean, most people like this powder. They’re probably all 14-year-olds, but yes, most reviews are favorable.

Last product in the haul:

Sometimes I buy things for the sake of buying something. Take the It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Palette for instance. I hadn’t heard much about it. But I walked into Ulta without an agenda, had nothing in my shopping bag for five minutes too long, and I started to get anxiety. What if I didn’t find anything? I couldn’t leave Ulta emptyhanded. That’s blasphemy as far as I’m concerned. So picking this palette up was an act of desperation at the very least. However, I would find it useful especially when traveling since it’s basically three products in one.

My favorite is the blush. It’s a very pretty pink with a touch of coral and looks very flattering with my skintone. The powder is just okay. It pulls slightly pink on me so I don’t love it, although if it came down to packing an extra powder compact or saving space with this 3-in-1, I’d do the 3-in-1. That’s not lazy, that’s practical – and we all know how practical I can be. Finally, the bronzer. Looks very dark in the pan, but it does not apply that dark. It’s matte and has a bit of a reddish undertone – in my opinion; deciphering undertones is not my strong suit. However, it’s not my favorite bronzer. It’s not bad, mind you, but I never want to use this palette primarily because of the bronzer.

Well, that’s what I get for not doing my research before stepping foot inside an Ulta. It could’ve been worse though – I distinctly remember having an ice blue eyeshadow rollerball in my bag as well. I kindly put that back on the shelf. Anxiety is a REAL DISEASE – as you can clearly see.

Time for night night. Thanks for continually reading my blog. I love all my people. Internet hugs for everyone. Well, just the cute ones. Bye!

Apr7

Buying Stuff: Skincare Edition

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Dianna

Standard

It’s been a while since my last Buying Stuff post, but don’t let that fool you. There’s been an extraordinary amount of buying stuff happening behind the scenes. Like an obscene amount. Well, how else am I going to achieve my lifelong goal of owning all the things? Plus, you try walking away when companies sell things in cute little kits for Christmas. It’s nigh on impossible. I mean, I never really want a body lotion, but stick it in a basket with the matching body wash, spritzer and a loofah and immediately there’s nothing else I want more than that dadgum body lotion.

In other disastrous marketing trick news, please stop putting Award Winning stickers or the word “Limited Edition” on your products. The latter creates a panic inside of me like no other. If I feel I’m about to miss out on something that will never ever exist in humankind again, it’s only natural I must own that product right now this very second. And if you dare put one item on the shelf and pretend it’s the very last one in the entire world, I am helpless to the point of nothing else matters. Hence, Buying Stuff was born.

Speaking of kits, picked up this Korres Beauty Shots mask collection for no reason other than what’s already been explained. Do I need all these masks? Is the sky blue? Don’t ask stupid questions.

I have not used any of these masks, therefore there is really no point to posting this picture here for you. I suppose if you want proof of my insanity, then I’d say your job is done for the day and you can go get your pajamas back on. I bought this because of the kit situation, but also because it is a kit of masks. I loooooove masks. And fruit smells. I’d pick a fruit smell over a flower smell about 98.98675% of the time, regardless of benefit. This goes to show you how good I am at reviewing skin care and what level of professionalism I have, up to this point, achieved. I can sense you are impressed.

And then I went and bought this thing because it won an Allure magazine award:

It’s the Dr. Brandt Glow retinol eye cream and I’ve actually been using it for the past four months. It’s the eye cream that won’t die, seriously, cuz to this day it weighs exactly the same as when I first bought it. Pretty sure it’s replicating itself every morning. Full size price is $55, but that’s okay because it will last the rest of your life.

First of all, the consistency is nice. It’s a lightweight cream that looks like pink pearl. It has some ruby crystal complex which, if science is correct, makes white things turn pink. It has a shimmer about it, but once it’s on your eye, you don’t notice it. But it does lend a bit of a glow. Not crazy Kim Kardashian glow, but a smidge. In fact, once you put concealer or foundation on top of it, it pretty much disappears. What I’m trying to say is, do not be afraid.

I use less than a pea-sized amount and blend under my eye. It sinks in pretty fast, which is nice. I have noticed my under eye wrinkles (er, fine lines) do look somewhat diminished. There is retinol in it, but I don’t think there is a lot of it because it hasn’t caused any irritation whatsoever and I use this stuff every morning. As for the reason it won an Allure magazine award, I have no idea. But it did, and I’m sorry, what is your question?

Here’s this bastard:

Nothing against the Bite Beauty Agave lip mask, but hope you don’t have arthritis or anything cuz this is the worst packaging of any tube of any kind I’ve ever seen. Good luck squeezing any product out, unless you have the biceps of Hercules, that is. It’s seriously like giving birth except the exit hole never gets bigger. Can you imagine that? I might have gone too far, but at least you get my point.

As for the lip balm itself, it’s very good. Extremely thick and sits right on top of your lips in a slightly uncomfortable fashion. But then you go to sleep completely unawares and wake up nicely moisturized. It has an odd smell like raw cookie dough that I don’t enjoy but other people may be okay with it. It’s basically the best lip balm I’ve used to counteract my horrid scraggly lip skin, but if they don’t fix the packaging soon I may have a carpal tunnel medical emergency on my hands. Literally.

Side note: this is not for anyone with OCD. The tube is made of soft metal, so when you squeeze the life out of it to get your pea-sized drop of product, you are left with this hideous dent right in the middle. So you try and fix it by smoothing it out, pushing product up from the bottom of the tube to fill in the middle again. But not one to leave well enough alone, you decide maybe if you roll the tube up from the bottom (a la toothpaste tube style), you can perhaps create a nice, neat little package of lip balm to sit prettily on your bedside table instead of one that looks like a hobo just used it. Then you realize by doing so, your tube has busted a seam and is now properly exposing its inner contents to the poisonous air, rendering this terrifically expensive lip balm useless and moot. I mean, that’s what happened to me. Normal people will be just fine.

There is a skin care craze a’brewin’ and it’s in the form of exfoliating powder. Not one to be left out of the loop, I picked up the Nude Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash to see what all the fuss was about. If you think for one second I ignored the word “fizzy”, you haven’t been reading this blog right. It’s the primary reason I chose this one. My brain wouldn’t leave me alone about it. Fizzy just sounds like goodhearted, childlike fun. Like blowing bubbles, sidewalk chalk and the Ice Cream Man. Who wouldn’t enjoy that? People with skewed priorities maybe, like workaholics or idiots.

To use this, pour about a teaspoon of powder into wet hands. Add a bit of water and rub your hands together to create a paste. Wait for the fizzy. And then keep waiting. And then finally wait freaking forever cuz the damn thing does not fizz. Yes, it exfoliates very gently. Yes, it will foam up with soap bubbles when more water is added to your face. But fizz it does not. I don’t know what I expected – perhaps the sound of Pop Rocks crackling away inside an open mouth? Yes, that’s exactly what I expected.

Regardless, my face was very clean and felt extremely soft afterwards. Mildly tight but nothing uncomfortable. The smell was less than desirable, though, unless you like the scent of a milky baby neck. Would it kill someone to toss some flowers in the batch, freshen things up a little? Do I need to be CEO of yet another company?

After running out of conditioner samples, I decided to purchase something that was actually intended to be used for shaving. Someone on YouTube did a review on the Lush D’Fluff shaving soap, and because I am easily persuaded, I purchased it online about 2.5 seconds later. I got the small version so I could try it out before deciding it was Holy Grail Status. Which turned out to be a good thing because this product is not for me. It has a soap consistency, which is so much more drying than my preferred cream or lotion. Plus if this smells like strawberry (as indicated right there in English on the front of the package), then my entire life has been a lie.

Other than those two things, which are pretty major if you ask me (and you did; that’s why you’re here), it will work as intended. Just not very good/fun/nice. Unless you enjoy the feeling of dry legs, I’d steer clear. Of course, my legs are very dry to begin with, and sometimes even after I shave them I still feel like they need shaved. You might say the lower half of my body just doesn’t cooperate well. Hair grows by the microsecond, legs tan the least and slowest, and ankles are in dire need of liposuction. In other words, none of that has anything to do with Lush D’Fluff shaving soap.

Got a couple of Tatcha samples to try out – the Polished Rice Enzyme Powder and Indigo Soothing Silk body butter. Again, the popularity of exfoliating powders made me do it. This particular one is made from rice and it smells, not surprisingly, like rice. So it isn’t particularly luxurious. However, it is a very nice cleanser and I kind of liked it even better than the Nude one. I found it pretty gentle on the skin, although if you’re a rough washer, maybe you’d disagree. In addition to rice, it also has crushed pearl in it, so at this point I’ve stopped listening to anything else. There’s pearl in it. Gimme.

Magical properties include: addressing fine lines, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation and breakouts. Polishes your skin to a jewel-like luster. I don’t know about you, but those people at Tatcha got me feeling all warm and liquidy inside. Talking like that. Lord, are you hot and sweaty? I’m hot and sweaty.

The other item, the body butter, was lovely as well. I checked to make sure and can officially confirm there is liquid silk in there. Ugggggghhhhh. I can barely sit up straight to type this.

Other good things about the body butter: it’s truly a blue lotion. How about the novelty of that?! It’s made with indigo, which is anti-inflammatory so if you suffer from dermatitis or similar skin conditions, you might like this. It also turns your skin blue – well, for like a second, but still. I can describe this body butter as luxurious and rich with the utmost confidence. I don’t think anyone would argue my point. It’s an absolute texture-dream.

Sadly, though, the smell was just okay. Wasn’t anything floral that I recognized. Definitely not fruity. I don’t actually know what indigo is – is that a plant or some kind of fabric? Regardless, maybe it smells like indigo. And if so, I do not like indigo.

Look at this thing:

Picked up this Kaplan MD lip mask and lip balm kit from Sephora. Look at that tiny spatula! I’ve since broken it, but it was definitely born cute. Not sure what this product honestly does. I was hoping for a cure-all to the neverending saga that is my chapped lips. But it’s pretty much the same as everything else I’ve tried – nice for the moment, but we’re back to square one the very next day.

The mask is ultra tingly. The first time I used it, my lips actually went numb. Most likely I applied too much and kept it on too long. The box says 3-5 minutes, then tissue off and apply the balm. I was reading some reviews, and a lot of people were talking about how they use this right before a big event to plump their lips. I didn’t notice any plumping effect, but we’ve already determined I don’t read directions very well. The balm is super nice though. It’s a medium-thick oil and very soothing. Doesn’t taste good, however, so don’t get it in your mouth. Unless you have time to get up every five minutes to spit in the sink.

Bottom line: it’s a decent product. Not a miracle worker, but I like to use it every now and then. Pretty certain if I didn’t have a fan blowing in my face for 8 hours every night, I wouldn’t have a lip saga to begin with. So I can’t blame the product necessarily for not curing my issue.

That’s all for now. Time for YouTube and alcohol. Var var busy, clearly.

Jan28

Buying Stuff: Episode 24

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Dianna

Standard

I feel like I haven’t done a Buying Stuff post in light years. But trust me when I say there’s been stuff being bought, like an embarrassing amount. I mean, if there’s a day that goes by without a UPS box sitting on my porch, someone needs to call the authorities cuz a crime has happened in my neighborhood.

So let’s get started. After wasting miles and miles of toilet paper, I finally decided to do this:

It’s the Vera Mona Color Switch Solo and you can wipe the eyeshadow off your brushes with it and simultaneously save the planet. It truly is a magical little tool. And handy too – sometimes I just don’t have the time to root around in my brush cup looking for something particular. I just take the brush I was already using, swipe the bristles around the mesh trap and voila! Clean brush to use again. It’s the lazy person’s (i.e., ME) best friend.

And because you’ll be saving billions of trees in the process, you can pat yourself on the back with a Sephora gift card. There, doesn’t that feel good?

Wanna see something pretty? Look below:

Can you stand it? Ugh. It’s the Chanel Camelia de Plumes highlighter and it’s too pretty to actually use. Like literally I’ve used it maybe 4 or 5 times then felt really guilty about it so I’ve put it away. It’s practically an art piece with all that leafy design on top (technical term, obviously). It is a limited edition and probably not even available anymore except on Amazon or eBay. But I wanted to show you anyway because it’s simply too lovely not to share. The color is a glorious mix of silver and gold, and if you don’t feel like a queen when holding/using/owning this, then you’re doing life wrong.

Now wanna see something ugly? Look below:

I know, right? It’s the Marc Jacobs nail polish in Lux (a chartreuse yellow), and it’s so verging on hideous that it’s practically cool. You know how male models can walk down the runway with a fanny pack on, and all of sudden you need a fanny pack like nobody’s business? Well, it’s that kind of cool. Except sadly my fanny pack would be less Chanel embossed leather and more Target-nylon-from-the-camping-aisle. But still.

Anyway, this color caught my eye because of it’s rare ugliness. Y’all know I don’t like nail polish. I barely buy it and wearing it from one week to the next is a crapshoot. So the lone fact that I bought nail polish and in THIS color speaks a thousand words. I absolutely loved it. It’s the most unique thing in my (albeit small) nail polish collection, and I don’t regret buying it for a second.

Then I bought this darling thing:

Is this too much beauty in one post for you? Everyone doing okay – heart rates behaving normally? Cuz this Tom Ford blush in Love Lust about gives me palpitations. If you’ve heard from other (more knowledgeable) people that Tom Ford blushes are beautiful and worth it – believe them. Highly pigmented, natural looking and luminous. It’s what cherub cheeks are made of. And if I have an extra $57 laying around, I’m buying me another one. However, how often does an extra $57 lay around at my house? Not very. I write a beauty blog. I’m not sure what else you expect.

The below happened because Nordstrom couldn’t just SHUT UP about their damn mascara coupon:

It was a Buy 2 Get 1 Free coupon, and I literally could not NOT take advantage. Who doesn’t want something for free? (Crazy people.) And if I don’t cash in on it, what does that say about me as a person other than being really, really bad at math? Cuz free is free, even if you have to spend $60 to get it.

First one is the Trish McEvoy Lash Curling mascara. I wanted to give this one a try since I didn’t own any Trish McEvoy products, and even though you might assume I own all the products of all time everywhere, sadly that isn’t the case. I mean, I am currently on my journey to own all the things but it’s going to take a lifetime at the very least. That’s okay though. Why be obsessed if you can’t do it proper?

But back to the mascara. This is one of those tubing mascaras, the kind that forms little tubes around your eyelashes. I’ll be honest when I say what is the point of tubing technology? Does it make things more voluminous? Or make your eyelashes touch your eyebrows? Well, not for me it doesn’t. It was just an okay find for me. It does remove very easily, so the fact I don’t lose eyelashes in the process is enough motivation to make me use this product.

The Dolce & Gabbana Secret Eyes mascara fared better. It is a lengthening version and it does alright. I mean, don’t go expecting falsie-status or anything, but I don’t think you’ll hate it. However, mascara is such a personal thing – one works for one doesn’t work for another. Although if you tell me you don’t enjoy the YSL Babydoll mascara or the Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes one, then obviously you are WRONG. But other than those two, I get it.

So this one gives decent length, separates and fans out lashes, but to get volume you’re gonna have to swipe on about 3 coats. Luckily this didn’t cause a clumping fiasco otherwise I’d have to trade my morning Starbucks run with pushing a stick pin between my lashes and manually, tediously separating them. Risking the safety of my eyeball isn’t always the best idea at 6:30 in the morning. But then again, nothing sounds particularly awesome at 6:30 in the morning. Aside from that, don’t make me choose between eyelashes and Starbucks. What is the point of the Constitution if I can’t have both? I ask you: WHAT. IS. THE. POINT.

My favorite of the three is the Burberry Curve Lash. It takes the least amount of effort to make an impact. The brush is small and does a pretty good job of volumizing. Length is about standard, but I’ve come to the conclusion that fat lashes are better than tall ones anyway. I wouldn’t say it curls them any better than other mascaras, but what do I want in a $30 mascara – a fecking miracle? (Yes.)

Last thing I bought are the Gerard Cosmetics Jaclyn Hill lip thingies:

If you don’t know who Jaclyn Hill is, it’s clear you don’t spend enough time on YouTube watching makeup tutorials, which in that case I can only assume your life is much more exciting than mine. I mean, I’ve been reading the same 200-page book for roughly 3 months now because I keep using all my free time on YouTube. I should really have more responsibilities in life. If it wasn’t for the fact I have a full time job, I’d probably be winning in the Couch Pajamas Olympics event (but failing at the Cheetos-slash-Little Debbie Cake Resistance Program).

Well anyway – Jaclyn Hill. She is a very popular makeup artist on YouTube and she has teamed up with Gerard Cosmetics to develop her own colors of lip gloss and lipstick. I already own one of her lip glosses (called Rose Hill, a beautiful rosy pink) so this lip gloss in Buttercream and these lipsticks in 1995 (brown) and Buttercup (pink) complete the collection. I absolutely love these products. The lip glosses are very pigmented, which I prefer in a lip gloss. Super shiny, not terribly sticky (or not annoyingly sticky). If I had to pick my least favorite, though, it would be the 1995 lipstick. It’s very much a Kylie Jenner-esque shade and I don’t always think it looks good on me. But it looks good on loads of other people. Which happens to me a lot with lipstick. Skin tone can be such a bitch sometime.

Welp, that’s it for today. I have two box reviews to finish out the month and if my math is correct, I should be able to fit them in with one day to spare. If I can be a proper blogger and focus my attentions, that is. I get very distracted by lounging.

Bye!

Dec15

Buying Stuff: Episode 23

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Dianna

Standard

Just 10 days until Christmas and only 1,457 presents left to buy. Have I told you about the time I waited until the absolute very last minute (i.e., Christmas Eve) to buy gifts? Or that I bought Easter basket trinkets at midnight on Easter where they were, surprisingly, not even discounted? How about those birthday presents that tragically get “rerouted” during delivery end up arriving at my house roughly a week late? I tend to procrastinate with things that stress me out. However, advertise a makeup pre-order for something that’s not even available for 2 or 3 months, and I’ll get that done like yesterday. Perhaps someone’s priorities are skewed? I mean, not mine, but someone else’s?

In any case, I bought stuff:

Your eyes are not playing tricks. I bought the Gucci Lustrous Glow foundation y’all! I was so curious about this product because there were only like two reviews of this YouTube. I wasn’t even sure what color I was, and that quickly became my mission-slash-obsession in life. Like, first find out my Gucci foundation shade, then solve world hunger. I started with Light 030. It seemed to be a touch too light, so I thought it would be safe to go up one notch to Light 040. This one I held onto for about a week trying to decide if it matched. It didn’t un-match necessarily but my face is naturally a little darker than my neck so it was hard to be sure. I went ahead and ordered Light 050 so I could do a proper comparison.

You can imagine all the trouble and expense I’m going through at this point, yes? I had charges for foundations before refunds were processed. Thank God for Discover, that’s all I have to say about that. Finally ended up settling on Light 050. It had the least degree of washing out (if any). I wouldn’t call it a perfect match – a skosh too yellow – but I’d make it work. I mean, it’s Gucci. You don’t return Gucci. It’s in a rule book somewhere, I’m certain.

And was all the trouble worth it? Welllll, it’s a decent foundation. It had a nice natural finish to it. Very slightly glowy on me; it wasn’t “lustrous” by any means. The coverage was light to medium. When foundations are light coverage, I tend to not like them as much because all my ugly bits show through. So keep that in mind. If you have a good complexion to start with, you’ll probably like this foundation more than me. Best part is the lovely packaging. If anything, you can buy this to sit on the back of your toilet for your house guests to admire. A little pricey for bathroom décor, but did I mention it’s Gucci?

It was 3 o’clock in the morning when this happened:

I really shouldn’t have internet access once my husband goes to bed. Cuz I bought the May Lindstrom Honey Mud cleansing silk almost on autopilot. However, it wasn’t alcohol-induced so points for that.

This stuff is advertised as a cleanser. It’s made out of honey and clay and somehow manages to smell exactly like a Tootsie Roll. The consistency is like a pudding before it sets up in the fridge. I won’t lie; you want to eat it. It feels super moisturizing and soft on the skin. I can see this as a very luxurious spa treatment because it’s so elegant and lovely. HOWEVER. I was disappointed that it didn’t seem to clean my skin very well. If you ask me, I’d consider it more as a pre-cleanser than a main cleanser. For an $80 price tag, you should expect more. Like pore gunk removal-slash-zit zapping-slash-magical powers. They do give you the option to apply this as a mask instead, and I can see it working well in that capacity.

A side note: the honey used for this is collected from unsprayed/unfertilized fields of wildflowers in Michigan. So now everything bad I just said went right out of your head didn’t it? Yeah, mine too.

I owned zero products by Tory Burch when I discovered they had a small amount of makeup on the Sephora website. And because I’m in a constant state of needing to own all the things, I picked up this Bronzer and Blush. Shade is called Divine, although that point is moot since it only comes in one shade.

First of all, the packaging will suck you in. I love orange. So warm, so summery. Just looking at it will bring a smile to your face. But the product itself isn’t that bad either. I wouldn’t say you could use each section separately unless you use teeny tiny brushes. Rather, just swirl your brush over all the shades combined. You end up with a very pretty sunkissed glow on the cheeks. I am much more happy with this purchase than originally expected.

If you’re looking to buy Tory Burch makeup, there isn’t a huge selection. Sephora carries lipstick and a lip and cheek tint as well. Hopefully there will be more forthcoming in the future as I am not opposed to buying something else.

Look – something pretty:

Another instance of wanting to own all the things. My first Kevyn Aucoin purchase, and I’d say it’s a pretty good one. Hautelook was having a sale and the only eyeshadow duo left was the #201 Antique Silver/Plum Shimmer. Turns out, that was the perfect duo for me. The purple looks so stunning with my brown eyes. And the silver isn’t like SILVER! but more Silver. Well, I’m sure you know what I mean.

Blendability was excellent. Pigmentation was excellent. I can’t think of anything bad to say. I want to buy all of them, so that could be bad. For my wallet, anyway.

I bought this too:

It’s the eyeshadow palette out of the Tarte Bon Voyage kit. Why didn’t I show you the entire kit? Cuz the only thing I wanted the kit for was so I could get this palette. It is amazing. Great selection of mattes and pretty shimmers. Nothing super glittery. Neutral but still colorful. I got so much use of it for an entire week and never reused a shadow. That’s value. The cost is $59, but this is a 20-pan palette, and larger pans at that. Plus you get extras in the kit like a mini finishing powder, mini cheek stain, mini mascara, and a full size lipgloss and lipstick. Oh, and a mini Maracuja oil. So honestly, it’s got good stuff for a really great price. What I’m trying to say is go ahead and buy this. It’s at Sephora only. And it’s LIMITED EDITION. You panicked yet? You should be.

However, do not buy this:

This is a mucho mucho waste of money. It’s the Bobbi Brown Mini Eye Palette. Super cute packaging, which enticed me first. Then I thought the price ($35) wasn’t too terrible for 8 designer eyeshadows. I mean, it’s not awesome but I suppose you’d could say I’m used to it. My last thought was that I didn’t have a lot of Bobbi Brown stuff, and because I’m very ridiculous, I went ahead and purchased it because that made perfect sense.

Now. I’m not saying this palette wouldn’t work for certain people. But for me it was simply no bueno. Three of the shadows were chunky glitter, and even though they are quite clearly different colors in the pan, absolutely no discernible difference appeared on my eye. The other colors were okay, but very sheer. If I want a sheer look, that would be okay, but more often than not I don’t. The size of the palette is a 2-inch square. This doesn’t bother me, but I wanted everyone to know in case they would be expecting something bigger.

Ever since I’ve gotten this palette, it’s been hiding out in the Train Case of Unused Makeup. It’s probably going to live there. I’m keeping it because the packaging makes me happy and it’s Bobbi Brown (i.e., fancy). Does that make me shallow? Probably.

Last thing:

As if I don’t have enough cleansers or something, I went ahead and picked up the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip cleanser primarily because I liked the name Ceramic Slip. I really should develop more appropriate shopping techniques. I certainly shouldn’t base my purchases based on clever names, pretty packaging, and whether or not they look like food.

Regardless, though, this is a good cleanser. It doesn’t smell that great. Like it literally smells like the inside of a ceramic pot. That’s probably not its intended smell, but I detect nothing floral, sweet or perfume-y at all. It has black pepper and frankincense in it. Are those good smells? NO. But they’re not horrid, so we can move on.

This cleanser is not moisturizing. It actually physically tightens your skin. It foams up really nice when you use wet hands and makes you feel like you’re getting your face super duper clean. It claims to give me miniscule pores and flawless skin. It’s printed right there on the front of the bottle. They wouldn’t do that if it wasn’t true. Either that, or it’s just a very clever marketing ploy because besides the name, that’s the other reason why I bought this.

Okay friends, we’re at the end. Beauty boxes are arriving so I’ll be getting on those reviews soon. Plus I’m in a constant state of Buying Stuff, so honestly, the fun will never die. Hope it’s warm and sunshine-y where you are. I’m going to go roll up in a ball under a blanket somewhere. Bye!

Nov19

Buying Stuff: Episode 22

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Dianna

Standard

Current status: still freezing. But thanks for checking. I’ll just be over here wearing socks with my heels, sitting on a heating pad, holding my hand around my nose to keep it warm. Or, looking like an idiot, as it is commonly known.

Gratefully, the weather is supposed to get warmer in the next few days, so perhaps my pouting and whining will calm down a bit. Until the next polar vortex that makes it way through, that is. Me and Winter? We ARE. NOT. friends.

In brighter news, I bought stuff:

A little mini Inglot haul! I picked up a lip paint in shade 59 (in the purple family), a gel eyeliner in shade 82 (also in the purple family; kind of a dark periwinkle), and a pigment in shade 56 (a teal). I have decided that I love Inglot so much. The gel eyeliners are the creamiest and best I’ve ever used. They don’t set for 60 seconds, which works fantastically for me because I am never satisfied with my line on the first swipe. In fact, I need a good 20 minutes – but I’ll accept 60 seconds. I challenge you to buy one of these and then disagree with me. It’s impossible I tell you; they’re amazing. And if you think otherwise, well then you are WRONG. There’s no other way to put it.

I adore the pigments. I reviewed them in my Vegas haul if you’ll recall (and if you don’t, click here), and I still feel very much the same. They are stunning, vibrant, and beautiful. I now own four, and that’s a far cry from the zero amount I’ve owned in the past (i.e., my entire life) (i.e., forty years if you’re counting).

I’ve only purchased this one lip paint, and I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a lipstick or a lip gloss. It’s a very pretty color, but it sheers out somewhat on the lips which makes me think it’s a gloss. But it’s not really sticky. It’s creamy, but not thick. Either way, though, I like it and I might end up buying some more.

More fun with purple. See below:

This is the Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow quad in Glamour Muse. I am so happy that Charlotte Tilbury is now being sold in the U.S. I don’t even know why, as I hadn’t even heard of her until someone on YouTube mentioned her one time. I’m gonna say it’s most likely cuz I wasn’t able to purchase her products that made me want to buy her products. Don’t tell me I can’t have something. That creates a panic in me so fierce that I could probably bend steel rods with sheer OCD force or something. Which I suppose is pretty genius marketing on their part. And also how I ended up with this quad.

Okay, I’m torn about it. At first glance, it’s super pretty. The sparkle is just right. But I bought this because I wanted something PURPLE not just purple. And the vibrant looking shade does not transfer that well onto your eyeball. How unfortunate, for me and for all of the world. Now, if you like a more subtle purple, by all means buy this quad with confidence. Do not be afraid. It will probably most likely be the perfect purple for you.

On a happier note, the longer I wore it (and the more often I stared at myself), the more I actually started to enjoy the eye look. So it turned out alright in the end. It just wasn’t what I was expecting in the beginning, that’s all.

And then! I bought this:

I love having a Color IQ number with Sephora because it tells me when new foundations come out that will match my skin tone. If you haven’t gotten your Color IQ done, I’m pretty sure you’ve stumbled upon this blog by accident, cuz anyone who’s everyone who loves makeup is (or should be) doing this. If you like taking out guesswork, making shopping easy, buying foundation from the comfort of your home without fear and while wearing pajamas, that is.

So here is the Dior Diorskin Star foundation in 32 Rosy Beige. For me, this is a really nice product. It’s pretty lightweight, probably about a medium coverage. Has a nice finish – not matte but not luminous – somewhere in between. It claims to be brightening, which I didn’t really catch, but that might have more to do with my horrid complexion to start with. That’s the problem with a lot of supposedly nice foundations. You can’t put them on top of skin like mine and expect fabulous – it just doesn’t happen very often. So, yeah, I wasn’t wowed or anything. It didn’t knock my socks off. It didn’t make me feel supermodelly (like the Guerlain Tenue de Perfection or Givenchy Photo’Perfexion does). So this foundation will be in my second tier – a high quality, better than average, no IT factor foundation.

I bought a brush:

A Wayne Goss #7 lip brush to be exact. I bought this to go with the Inglot lip paint, as I didn’t feel like going all hillbilly fingers into the pot. We use brushes like refined ladies in here, people. Or else.

What can I really say about a lip brush other than it applies lip stuff? Not much. But I will say the edges are very thin, so if you’re really good at using a lip brush I’d think this one would do a pretty good job for you. Other uses of this brush include gel or powder eyeliner application. I tried the gel version, and you know what? I really suck at gel eyeliner. But others who don’t suck might find this brush a dream. It has somewhat stiff bristles so they don’t go flopping all over the place and allows for some nice precision.

Look at this beauty:

This is the Marc Jacobs Sky-Liner Highliner gel eye crayons kit. Let me preface this by saying this kit is a limited edition. However, the eyeliners themselves are not, so even if it’s 17 months into the future and you are reading this blog, this review should still apply. Unless Marc Jacobs goes out of business, so in that case, kindly carry on.

I love these eyeliners. They are very creamy and easy to apply. The shimmer is beautiful. They last for a very long time on the upper eyelid or below the lower eyelashes. On my waterline, though, they did not last as long. Kind of went patchy in the afternoon. But I have very wet eyeballs so that’s probably the reason. I’ve yet to find an eyeliner with hardcore staying power – the Sumita Beauty one comes the closest, but I’m still on my mission. Regardless, though, these are some pretty, good quality liners and you should go ahead and throw them in your basket.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy the travel size of this item:

It’s the Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm, and if you try it once you will fall madly in love, then wrestle with your conscience regarding the $105 full-size price. Or you can ignore yourself like I usually do. It’s your risk to take. But I swear, I have no idea what this stuff is made of – okay I do; it’s made of thermal mud from the Hungarian Moors – but it’s truly magical. Has an odd little smell verging on licorice, but I’m most likely conjuring licorice due to its black color. Anyway, I use a very small amount and apply it all over my face. The texture is soothing, soft, velvety smooth. Wiping it off is even better cuz then you are left with the skin of a baby’s bottom. At this point, you’re under its spell and your shopping hand starts to get itchy. Also, it removes makeup very well, but that’s beside the point now isn’t it?

I have since bought an Omorovicza travel kit that includes another jar of this balm. I’m hoping by the time I’m done with both jars, my fascination will have been satisfied and I will no longer feel the pull of buying the full size. Because honestly, I don’t WANT to pay that much for a cleanser. Although, I suppose I will if I won’t leave myself alone about it. I can be soooo super annoying sometimes.

If you like colorful eyeshadows, you should buy this:

Ack! I die. This Urban Decay Vice 3 palette is just lovely. That gorgeous green on the top row is what caught my eye initially. And the golds and purples. There are hearts in my eyes right now. I had no issues with pigmentation or blendability. Fallout was pretty minimal if at all. And it comes in a cutesy little iPad case to help make your shopping decision even easier.

So many stunning looks can come out of this palette. My favorite (other than the green of course) is using Lucky – which is the color of a new penny – all over the lid, then adding Alchemy – a bold raspberry – in the outer v. Of course, I’m sure some makeup artist could do it even better, but I was pretty proud of my invention. Pretty sure Urban Decay is about to call me. Or Vogue.

Behold, look what else:

Is your mouth hanging open? Mine is. It’s the new Gucci makeup, specifically the eyeshadow duo in Fume. It’s shockingly beautiful, very luxurious, fancy schmancy, and ooh la la. Practically too pretty to even use, what with all those little Gs stamped into the shadow. However, I did use it – just once so far – and lemme just say that sometimes I question my own makeup skills. How could something this lovely not turn out even more lovely once applied? There was more pigmentation in the pan than on the eye. What did I do wrong? I suppose I could’ve wet my brush first to see if that made it better, but putting something wet into something dry gives me anxiety, like there’s a never-turning-back event about to happen, and it stops me from doing it. That’s most likely the #1 reason I hate washing my hair. Which has nothing to do with this eyeshadow, but still.

I’ll keep playing with it. I’m determined to not give up. I’ll do it for my people (that’s you), so you will continue reading (and loving) this blog.

We’re at the end. You’ve made it. Now wasn’t that fun? Be sure to come back again and again cuz I write updates all the time. You won’t want to miss out on anything. Trust me.

Nov6

Buying Stuff: Episode 21

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Dianna

Standard

Finally the sun has come out after being non-existent for the past several days. I was starting to wonder if we’d ever see it again. I mean, by all means be 48-degrees if you have to, but at least give me sunlight. Without the sun, I am moody and sad and var var pale. Sunshine sustains me. It’s the only thing that can get me through the disaster that is Winter. I love sun, sunlight, sunshine, and any and all things sun-related. Sunglasses.

Therefore I sit in my car during lunch hour where it proceeded to blaze hot right onto my face and into my eyes. Urgh. Go away, Sun.

Clearly something is wrong with me.

Look, I bought stuff:

This is the Benefit Majorette Booster Blush, and I have no idea what I’m going to do with it. This is one of those circumstances where I bought something cute simply because it was new and would make a good Instagram picture. Does that make me shallow? Probably.

Okay, yes, it’s a cream-to-powder blush so obviously you can use it that way. But I’m not a huge cream blush fan even though this one is pretty idiot-proof. Like the most easiest application and blendability I’ve ever come across. The color is a sweet girly peach. It’s matte and has a great smell. You can also layer it underneath another blush to give that other blush more vibrancy. But those are two things I’m not really interested in. First of all, who has time to be applying TWO blushes? (Superhumans.) And second of all, I didn’t think it looked all that pretty on my face. However, everyone else in the universe seems to love it, so apparently I lose at makeup.

But then I bought this:

Who else has been petrified of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade? I mean, this stuff is a gel-like cream you apply to your eyebrows with a liner brush – freehanded – and hope to God you don’t ef it up. I am not a natural when it comes to drawing on brows. Sure I could just follow the lines like a normal person would, but I do have pictures of myself where I did just that and ended up creating BROWS! with jazz-hands and everything. So I was scared that something as pigmented as this would be messy and worse.

Long story short: I faced my fear. Me and Sephora had a little chat and I decided to go for it. But which color? They’re all variations of brown. Which one would create the most natural look? I wish I could tell you my selection process was more scientific, but it all boiled down to seeing the word “universal taupe” on other brow products from other brands, so I chose the Taupe one and walked away before the anxiety kicked in.

Believe it or not, this isn’t as scary as I expected. If you tap your brush in lightly and very gently sweep over your brows, you can make some natural looking arches. Granted I can’t come close to the pictures I see on Instagram, but it’ll do for me. As for the color, there may have been a better brown shade to suit me, but the Taupe works just fine. Which is good cuz I’m pretty sure this little jar will outlast everything in my makeup collection.

Guess who came to America?

It’s Charlotte Tilbury! This is some exciting news cuz the last (and only) time I bought one of her products, international shipping about made me change my mind. Since I had my pick this time, I chose the Feline Flick eyeliner pen. As my preferred method of eyeliner, I feel as if owning all of them is completely justified. But then again, I write a beauty blog, so EVERYTHING is justified as far as I’m concerned. And nobody can argue with that kind of logic.

But back to the eyeliner. I liked it alright. The nib is pretty sturdy, so it lends a great amount of control in the application along the lash line and drawing the angle in the start of the wing. However, when I tried to connect the wing portion to the base of my lashes, the sturdiness of the nib didn’t make that part as easy. Like I literally had to go over it several times in order to get a good, crisp looking line. However, my own OCD may have played a part in that. And also, I am not very good at winged liner. But aside from those two things, I can’t say this eyeliner is my favorite. I’ve went back to my Kat Von D pen for the time being.

Look how beautiful:

I bought this Laura Geller Baked Gelato blush because it looked like food. Like something I could stick my finger in then lick off. A cupcake top. A vat of frosting. I literally couldn’t NOT buy it after laying my eyes on it. Whoever was in charge of the design of this product is a genius. I own chocolate masks, strawberry moisturizers, and all things coconut BECAUSE of geniuses like this. All other companies should take note. You want me to buy your product? Make it resemble food.

This is a really beautiful blush. The shade I picked out was Guava, and it’s a bright but wearable pink. It’s sheers out really well and creates this lovely flush of color. I’m not sure if it’s a cream that’s been baked or what exactly, but it’s applied like a normal powder blush and that’s all I really need to know. I feel like I need more colors, but I’m trying very hard to be good.

Hahaha, just kidding. I bought this too:

This Smashbox Cherry Smoke eyeshadow set is the perfect fall palette. Instead of your typical grey or black smokey eye, this is a taupe and burgundy version and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Each shadow applied well and blended nicely. I could create a daytime, natural look with it as well so it’s pretty versatile. Although I don’t necessarily stick to daytime/nighttime makeup rules. I want what I want when I want it. Smokey eye at 10 a.m.? Done. But for those who like to stick to rules (and are probably not wearing white after Labor Day), you can still utilize this palette at your 9-5. And back to that whole food thing – the word “cherry”? Sucked me in right away.

One of the best makeup decisions ever made is below:

It’s the Sedona Lace Round Top #480 brush and I’m in deep, passionate love. Ugh. I can’t even express properly how beautifully this applies foundation. It hugs every curve of my face and makes blending practically effort-free. I thought I loved my Real Techniques Expert Face brush, but this (while similar) is so much better. Even the price is good at $18.95 (although I had a 20% coupon as well as an additional $4 off). The bristles are dense, and the round top gets rid of harsh lines that blush or bronzer might create. I don’t think I’ll ever want to use anything different. It’s also pink and adorable and looks pretty on my counter. How many more reasons do you need? Approved! Put it in your basket.

We done for today. I’m now going to get back to fighting with Sephora’s broken website. They are having their 20% off sale and the entire world is on the internet. Boo.

Oct31

Buying Stuff on Location: Las Vegas

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Dianna

Standard

Who makes the decision to repave the street in front of my house on Halloween? And then tells us we have to park our cars elsewhere until it dries? How am I supposed to get home? There’s only one way in and one way out of my neighborhood, so it looks like I be walking through fields, barefoot and in 10 feet of snow. Blah.

But most importantly, how is FedEx supposed to deliver my four Sephora orders today? I mean, you know that’s the part that’s really killing me right?

Anyway, my long awaited Las Vegas haul has arrived. Thanks for your patience while I went on vacation for three weekends in a row. But just look at what you’ve waited for:

This is the NARS Audacious lipstick in the shade Dominique, and it almost didn’t happen. I was watching a YouTube video several weeks prior to Vegas, and one of my gurus was going on and on about how fabulous this particular shade of lipstick is. It’s a muted purple – or a purple mixed with a skosh of grey – or it’s just very pretty. Any of those three. And so I went to buy it but nobody had it. Apparently, it’s an exclusive shade for Barney’s New York (aside from NARS) and it was sold out in both places online. Aack! This created a panic in me like nobody’s business. I mean, I don’t live in a big city. The fanciest store we have is a Macy’s, and not even a two-story one. How am I ever going to get my hands on this lipstick then?

You go to Vegas.

Wandering through the Forum Shops inside Caesar’s Palace, and I almost missed it. Gawking off to my right while passing the NARS store on the left. Thankfully I turned my head just in time. It’s so funny going into a store where the salesladies start gearing up for their spiel, and I’m holding my hand up like shuushhhhhh. I already know what I’m looking for; I’m a woman on a mission.

Turns out, they had three tubes left. And then the heavens opened up and angels began to sing. It truly was a miracle moment. I might as well have stumbled upon the last Golden Ticket, or maybe the cup that Jesus drank out of, for how exciting and miraculous this was.

If you like creamy, pigmented lipstick then you will love these. There are a ton of colors that are widely available on lots of sites, Sephora included. I just can’t guarantee you’ll find Dominique. Which is unfortunate because it’s the most beautiful. You’re welcome for the rave review anyway.

You know how when you’re in Vegas, money doesn’t feel like actual money? As in, your $100 blackjack money is traded for a stack of chips, which might as well be Monopoly chips considering how quickly and recklessly they are lost. Well, that’s what happened when I did this:

It’s Cle de Peau. I ain’t even going to tell you what these two things cost because it is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard. But VACATION. What other excuse do I have?

I walked into the Barney’s at the Palazzo just to “see” which my husband should know is international sign language for an Impending Shopping Event. Cuz nobody goes to just “see.” They go to shop on accident. It sounds less purposeful that way, and whatever ensues afterward is “not my fault.”

Browsed for literally half a second when I bagged this shimmery eyeshadow quad in #308. Oh, lawd, the purples! Had to have it, even though the eyeshadow and compact are sold separately. Honestly, that’s a horrible thing to do to someone isn’t it? Thinking they’re getting a whole complete thing, but turns out the very important holder portion is missing. Do I buy soda at a restaurant and they bring it to me without the holder? How about a hot dog – you expect the bun too, right? Of course you do, cuz this is America and you have a right to get a bun with your hot dog.

I rest my case.

Anyway, I bought both the eyeshadow and compact.

And then the saleslady has the audacity to suggest their award-winning concealer. As she is applying it on my undereye, she is telling me how it’s the Concealer to the Stars (i.e., Kim Kardashian) and OMG, it looks so amazing! Well, you can’t do either of those things PLUS win beauty awards and not expect me to buy it. I mean, I am no superhuman.

For those curious, I picked the shade Beige which looks pretty good. The formula is like a cream-to-powder and works best if you have moisturized first. It covers dark circles nicely but not completely – so don’t be expecting no miracle despite the fact it costs a fortune. Unless you have the undereye of a 14-year-old that is.

Had to pop into Sephora because I know the Vegas one will sell wayyyyy more brands than the one in my hometown. That’s the only thing I was interested in – products that are’t readily available to me. So here’s what I got:

Okay, the Marc Jacobs O!Mega mascara was a freebie and I do have access to this at home. But I traded in 100 Sephora points cuz I was curious. This turned out to be one of the best makeup decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely LOVE this mascara. It fans out my lashes, fattens them up and lengthens them so beautifully. This may be my favorite, although it’s hard to top my Charlotte Tilbury.

I know mascara is very personal because what works for one may not work for another. We all have different eyelashes. Mine are sparse, thin and itty bitty. And what the O!Mega does for me is nothing short of awesome. It has size-increasing ingredients in it, and I highly highly highly recommend.

Next thing I picked up is the Dior Capture Totale makeup base (primer). Again, I have access to Dior where I live. I suppose you could say I got a little sidetracked inside Sephora. Var var easy to do as I’m sure you know. Time isn’t even a real thing once you step inside. I don’t even know why I got this because certainly I didn’t need yet another foundation primer? (If you considered that an actual question, you might’ve stumbled upon this blog by accident.)

This primer has a lot of skincare in it, with anti-aging ingredients and UV protection. It’s pinkish white tint actually brightens my face up a bit when I use it, which I kind of like. I don’t have much more of an opinion at this point because I’ve only used it a handful of times. It doesn’t spread really well over dry skin – I had to pat it on instead of smooth it on – so if you don’t have combo skin at the minimum, ask Sephora for a sample first before spending real money on it. Of course, I bought it practically sight unseen cuz in Vegas there is no such thing as real money.

Finally I get around to the brands I don’t have easy access to. Picked up the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill eyeshadow quad in #3 Pantelleria. I didn’t even know Sephora carried Giorgio Armani. I was actually able to get color matched to the Luminous Silk foundation, where I found the shade I own (5.5) is not the shade I should be wearing (5.25), and even though the one I own works just fine, the fact that it’s not my shade makes me want to spend another $60 to buy the right one. OCD is a real problem, as you can clearly see. Also, run-on sentences.

But back to the eye quad. It is truly beautiful. I wanted to pick colors that wasn’t my normal purple or green, and I just love the teal. Very smooth application, easy to blend. I’m really happy I bought this. It’s one of the best luxury eye quads I’ve ever purchased.

Then I saw the Givenchy Photo’Perfexion Fluid Foundation and quickly decided the 39 foundations I own is not enough. At this point it had nothing to do with the foundation itself, but more the fact that I needed to own all the things. Got color matched to the shade Perfect Cinnamon, which surprised me for some reason. The word “cinnamon” does not evoke a light to medium skin tone in my mind, but it worked. Took it back to my hotel room and did a quick trial run. And was promptly amazed. The finish on this is extraordinary. Claims to do what digital retouching would do, and I would say that’s pretty close to accurate. Remember how splotchy and hideous my naked skin is? So yeah, you might wanna buy this. Out of 39 foundations, it’s in my top 3.

After all this shopping, I dragged my poor husband into one last place: the Inglot store. And here’s what happened:

In my defense, they had a couch there so he could sit and Facebook or play Fantasy Football or whatever it is that boys do. I decided to try out a couple of their pure pigment eyeshadows because I was mesmerized by seeing them in person. Swatched a few on my hand and was blown away by the intense color. I picked a purple/gold glitter and a burgundy. Both stunning. I’ve used these in real life situations since Vegas, and I’m in deep passionate love. I like to apply them as liner under my lower lashes, and you don’t know the true definition of “pop of color” until you’ve used an Inglot pigment. Plus, they’re like $14. Practically free!

The whole point of my Inglot visit, however, was to see their freedom system eyeshadows up close and personal. There’s no way I could create my customized eyeshadow palette by looking at thumbnail pictures online. It would be overwhelming at the very least. So, I chose the 10-pan palette and got to work. I did the responsible thing and selected a matte crease color and browbone color because every palette requires one. Then decided to create two quads – a orange/brown one and a purple/green one. The quality is very nice. I thought each shade was nicely pigmented and blended well. And the fact they are only $7 each – well, who’s gonna say no to that? (Crazy people.)

Remember how I turned 40 at the end of August and that we’ve been celebrating that fact for at least 2 months? Well, I made sure to remind my husband (lest he forget) that the whole point of Vegas was to go out with a bang. I mean, how many times do you turn 40 in your life? Two, three times, tops?

Well we were passing all these fancy stores – Gucci, Dior, Prada – and I kept jokingly asking what he was buying me. And I don’t know if he was just tired of hearing me or if he’d planned it all along, but oh my God, LOOK:

Happy 40th birthday to ME. Now if I can manage not to sit on these or leave them in a restaurant bathroom or something, that’s yet to be seen. I’ve never had a mishap with my $16 pair, but you know how you can totally hold your breath for 17 seconds until someone actually asks you to hold your breath for 17 seconds and then it’s nigh on impossible? I’m a little concerned about that.

Well, thanks guys for hanging out with me and for making it to the very end of this post. You rock, and if it weren’t for you, I’d be talking to myself and that’s A) weird and B) sad.

See you tomorrow!

Oct13

Buying Stuff: Episode 20

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Dianna

Standard

I absolutely cannot wait to share my Las Vegas haul with you guys. The products I bought are what dreams are made of. Well, my dreams, that is. However, because I’ve been meaning to post some other products for several weeks now, I suppose I’ll do it first. So, presenting, THAT OTHER HAUL THAT ISN’T AS EXCITING. (But still awesome.)

I do love me some eyeshadow. I want to own every palette that’s ever been made. I’m addicted, I’m fully aware, but you should see it all. They are like my little eyeshadow children, and I love each and every one of them. These right here are no exception.

I would never guess I would love an $11 drugstore eyeshadow palette. But this Maybelline The Nudes one is awesome. Every color is wearable, blendable, colorful. It is, quite literally, one of my favorite palette purchases. Isn’t that strange that something so inexpensive – it was even on sale for $7 when I picked it up – could turn out to be more precious than my $50 palettes. Just goes to show you, luxury makeup doesn’t mean squat. Although you can forget I said that as soon as my Vegas haul is posted. Cuz money doesn’t seem like actual money when you’re in Vegas. I don’t make the rules, guys. It is what it is.

Aside from that, I recommend you pick up this palette. The concept is pretty cool because it’s strategically placed in pre-designed quads, trios and duos. So if you count in fours (two top, two bottom) that is considered your quad; if you count in threes (all top, then bottom), those are your trios; then count in twos (all top, then bottom), those are your duos. They make it super easy to put looks together. Of course, I rebel and mix all over the place, but that is what professionals do. I am a professional, just so we’re clear.

Another batch of really nice drugstore eyeshadows are the new Milani Bella Eyes. Even looking at them is pretty exciting – they look like little cookies that someone stuck their thumb in. Or maybe that’s just how I see them. In any case, I bought some neutral colors (shown above) because that’s all my local Walgreens carried. However, we got a brand new CVS, and you’d swear it was a Bloomingdale’s or something the way I was carrying on. I made a special trip clear across town to see what kind of makeup they carried. And wouldn’t you know it – the best Milani display I’ve ever seen. Hoards of different things in all the colors. So I picked up a couple more shadows because I really do like the texture. They call them gel powders, and I’m not even gonna pretend to know what that means, but the result is lovely. They blend into each other so naturally. If you haven’t given these a try, I recommend you grab a few.

And then I bought this thing:

It’s a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick highlighter in Beige. In case you’re wondering: YouTube made me do it.

Well, you know how it is. Someone goes on and on and on about something, you start to feel like you’re missing out on the secret to life. I caved and bought one to see for myself. And yes, it does have a very lovely sheen. It’s not over the top sparkly by any means. Sometimes when I use it, I almost feel like I didn’t put on enough, that’s how subtle it looks on me. It comes in several colors, like a bronze, a pink and something else (besides the beige), so perhaps if I had gotten a different one, it would show up more pronounced. Or more likely than not, I just don’t know how to apply highlighter properly. Because when I swipe my finger through it, the color is just stunning. On my cheeks, however – just barely. It’s not my most favorite highlighter I’ve ever used, lemme just say that. Until I figure out how to use it the right way, that is.

Here’s my very first MAC lipstick purchase:

I think I picked a pretty good one for scrolling through a bunch of thumbnail color swatches on the Internet. I chose the MAC frost lipstick in the color Fluid, and it’s a plum brown. Perfect for fall. And the frost finish of it reminds of my first lipstick purchase in 7th grade. I don’t know if that’s a compliment to the lipstick or not, but I like it regardless.

Aside from all that, Ebates had like an 8% cash back or something at Macy’s, and that’s the only reason I bought this lipstick. I make absolutely no sense, I’m quite aware.

Last part of the haul came about from a Birchbox email that enticed me with a 25% off coupon. They know what they’re doing. Oh yes they do.

Sometimes when you’re forced to shop, it can takes days to figure out what you want to buy. There was no way I was letting a good coupon go to waste. I mean, there are starving people in China, for chrissakes.

So after about 3 days, and realizing that I clearly need more responsibilities in life, I finally decided on the Coastal Scents Revealed 2 palette and brushes kit. Oh man! This was such a big surprise to me. Normally I don’t go for palettes that have almost all similar eyeshadow colors (in this case, pink), but I took a chance on this one and I absolutely love it. Every look I’ve done with it has been so pretty. Shadows are blendable and pigmented. Well worth wasting 3 days if you ask me.

As for the brushes, these are pretty decent quality. I got a large shadow brush, a crease brush and some kind of angled blender brush. I can’t think of a feasible use for that last one, but I did like the other two. The crease brush deposits a nice amount of color in the outer v, then blends it out real good. I’ll continue to use them. However, probably not that angled one.

And while I was getting 25% off, might as well buy something else to make it even more worth my while. Decided to go with the Origins GinZing moisturizer, a product I was really curious about. This is an energizing moisturizer, meant to be applied in the morning when you’re halfway asleep, brushing your teeth with your eyes closed. It has caffeine in it to wake up your skin, and it has a nice, refreshing citrus scent. It is very light, and leaves my skin feeling very soft. Not sure if it really peps me up or not, but I can brainwash myself into thinking so.

That’s it for today. October boxes are rolling in so I’ll have those coming up this week. Plus of course the most fabulous haul of all time. Stay tuned, y’all. You won’t wanna miss it.

Snacks On Rotation

surprisingly, not a food blog

Category Archives: Buying Stuff

Buying Stuff: Blush Edition

Buying Stuff: Episode 26

Buying Stuff: Episode 25

Buying Stuff: Skincare Edition

Buying Stuff: Episode 24

Buying Stuff: Episode 23

Buying Stuff: Episode 22

Buying Stuff: Episode 21

Buying Stuff on Location: Las Vegas

Buying Stuff: Episode 20

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: