Nov6

Buying Stuff: Episode 21

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Dianna

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.

Nov3

Empties | October 2014

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Dianna

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For all those worried about me over the weekend, my Sephora boxes made it to my porch safe and sound as scheduled. I may have freaked out prematurely regarding the repaving of our street. In my defense, MAKEUP. That is all.

It’s empties time, people. Hope you’ve brought provisions with you cuz we gonna be here awhile. Otherwise you may pass out from dehydration, and I can’t be responsible for all that nonsense. Go get a snack. I’ll wait.

…

How about some masks and peels:

My favorite category. However, I blew it big time. About six months ago, I purchased the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask because I couldn’t resist the glorious green glass packaging. For normal people, that is hardly a reason to buy something. For me, it’s the ONLY reason to buy something. Do you see how pretty? Do you? If you’re able to turn your back on that, I question your morals. Might as well be walking away from a starving kitten as far as I’m concerned.

Anyway, when it came in the mail, I promptly opened and smelled it, took a good look at it. Then capped it back and set it aside as I am wont to do when I have about 17 other masks to use up first. Not good when there is a six month expiration date which I noticed about 5.75 months later. It was hammer time people – an emergency mask situation. I had roughly 10 days to get through this jar before it instantly turned to poison. I got proof, too, when I contacted Tata Harper to ask just how scientific are those expiration dates anyway. Turns out, VERY. They suggested I not use it after six months in order to ensure my safety. Now adequately terrified, I set about my challenge.

This mask is supposed to instantly resurface your skin. Give you a refreshed, glowing appearance. It has a cooling gel consistency with a lovely fruity smell. Instructions said to apply in a thick layer, which worked out well seeing how I was trying to use up a brand-new, full-size product in little more than a week.

Lemme just say I did not notice anything special. I didn’t dislike the mask, but I looked about the same as before. Maybe if I had more severe skin issues like rosacea or major dryness, maybe then I’d see a difference. I used about 3/4 of the jar before finally letting it go. It broke my heart a little bit – wasting product hurts – but the possibility of my face falling off was too much to bear.

A few months ago, I had tried the Sonya Dakar Flash Facial and instantly fell in love. Not with the $95 price, though. So in my effort to find something similar but cheaper, I picked up a sample tube of the Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel. You apply this gel to clean, dry skin and as you are massaging it in, dead skin (and part of the product) starts to ball up underneath your fingers. It really is kind of a cool thing. However, my face did not feel as smooth afterwards as it did when I used the Sonya Dakar. So while it is a good alternative for half the price, I will have to pass until I feel like spending a fortune on the real thing.

Same goes for the Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel. It did not give me the exact result that the Sonya Dakar did, but I actually liked it better than the Peter Thomas Roth. It’s applied in the exact same way, but I felt the roll-y bits were more satisfying with this one. I don’t even know how to explain that adequately; unless you are a proper weirdo, you may never understand.

Now for this Equitance skincare kit:

I took these three things with me to Vegas, and I was none too excited about it. The sample kit looked like it came from a doctor’s office, and not even one from France. However, I can’t let them go to waste and figured vacation would be the perfect opportunity to use them up. Plus, if they got confiscated at the airport for any reason, I wouldn’t throw myself at anyone’s mercy begging for them back. That is not a good look for me, or anyone for that matter.

But the Foaming Cleanser surprised me. It was actually one of the better ones (texturally) that I’ve tried. It felt good going on, then it wiped away completely, leaving me with really soft, moisturized feeling skin. I loves. I’ve added this to my list of future repurchases which I’ll eventually get around to, quite possibly in about 15 years or so. Give or take.

And what can you really say about a Toning Lotion, or TONER as us poor people like to call it. Turns out, not much. It was wet. It was cold. It left no residue. These are all good, mandatory things. Moving on.

Then there was the Brightening Cream. I liked this a lot actually. It had a very nice, soft texture. And it sank in rather quickly, which is my number 1 pre-requisite for anything. No one likes to go to bed with a moist face. Well, maybe somebody does, but they would be WRONG.

Some face stuff:

The SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector is supposed to get rid of your dark spots AND keep them from coming back, which sounds like a decree signed by Jesus himself. However, this little tube lasted less than a week and that is not long enough to determine anything. But what I do know is that it is a flesh-toned cream, applies like a moisturizer, and isn’t gross. And if it wasn’t $95, I would buy a full-size and cross my fingers.

Another toner. Finally used up the Le Couvent des Minimes 3-in-1 Micellar Water. This is a rose scented toner that refreshes, softens, and protects with the benefits of three different types of rose. According to their website, this is a makeup remover, but their “tip” is to use it as a toner after your other method of makeup removal. I can see where it might do a good job of removing makeup as it’s very wet and almost soapy but without soap. But I never put it to the test, as it was a toner for me from first drop to last. Nothing special here. It was fine. I’d use it again if someone gave me a bottle.

Y’all know I love serums. They are probably my most favorite skin care item aside from masks. I hoard them like I’m prepping for a really long camping trip cutoff from civilation, running water and 4G. Omg, did you just get the hives? Cuz I sure did. But anyway, this Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Serum, it’s a good one. It contains a truffle extract that fights off free radicals like a superhero. The texture is a very super light cream, milky in color. Goes on very wet, then dries sticky for about 15 seconds. Afterwards, your face feels pretty smooth. Smells sort of coconutty, but not overpowering. Certainly not mushroomy like you’d expect. This full-size jar is $75 except I didn’t pay that much. I had a coupon plus dollars-off in my Birchbox account, so I scored it for virtually free. I mean, not the normal idea of free, like what is internationally accepted as “free”, but free nonetheless.

Let’s remove our makeup:

But not with either of these things.

I did not like these Burt’s Bees Pink Grapefruit wipes. The smell, yes. Heavenly. But they left this residue on my face that I did not appreciate. Not sticky, but close to it. I dunno. Just not a very pleasant feeling at 6:30 in the morning. Or that could’ve just been 6:30 in the morning, but regardless.

Let me preface this by saying I love my Neutrogena makeup remover. It’s the kind you have to mix up to use, and I actually prefer this style because it gets off my mascara so much better. The Caudalie Cleansing Water is the other kind – the plain kind that does not need mixed. So I knew it had that strike against it. But I’m a trooper and a PROFESSIONAL, so I used it anyway.

Eh. This just did not work for me. It took forever to remove my mascara. I don’t have that kind of time in the evening – pajamas don’t just wear themselves ya know. This may work for people who wear very little eye makeup, but that people ain’t me. I need industrial-strength. Back to the Neutrogena I go.

Makeup stuffs:

This is my second sample of the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer if that tells you anything. I just love it so much. It’s hard for me to explain the texture. Like a dry lotion that disappears into nothing as soon as you start applying it. Your face feels smooth and powdery, but there is no powder. It’s magical. Addictive and magical. If you’re big on texture, then you may like it. I traded in some Sephora points for this little sample, but previously I had bought a travel sized bottle that lasted for a couple months. I will buy the full-size one day, though. As soon as my primer stash weedles down a bit. Is “weedle” a word? Probably not.

Perhaps the most boring thing ever is this Jesse’s Girl Vitamin E lipstick. It serves a purpose but it’s hardly exciting. Unless you like plain lip balm with no scent, no flavor, no nothing. I would apply it every morning before starting my makeup so my lips would be nice and soft in time for lipstick. And then I used it all up. Or about 1/4 of an inch from the end. Cuz my granddaughter stuck her finger on it, right after she rubbed snot straight up her face. The end.

One thing I was on the fence about was the NP Set Brightening Primer. First of all, it’s purple and purple counteracts yellow tones in your skin therefore giving you a brighter look. That’s fine, right? We all want to have a brighter, less sallow complexion. But then there are sparkles in it. Not super apparent sparkles, but sparkles nonetheless. The texture is okay. It is a dry lotion just like the Hourglass, but much more dry and not as pleasant. Feels okay on my face, but my hands needed a rinse right after application or my OCD would start to kick in. I used this tube for a few weeks and couldn’t bear it any longer. I’m passing it along to my daughter who is 21 and perfectly fine with sparkles.

Now for the body:

Okay, hands. It’s the Minus 417 Hand Moisturizer from my very first Sample Society box about a year ago. I like this lotion. The texture is quite thick, almost like a glycerin-based cream. But it absorbs relatively quick and leaves hands feeling very soft. The smell is nice. Not fruity, not floral, not spicy – just a warm, soothing, calming scent. I’m sure you know exactly what that smells like. I am very good with words. It took me so long to use it up because I left it in my purse and forgot it was in there. Because purses are black holes and things disappear in there. Even if your purse has just one pocket, you can never find what you’re looking for. It can only be in the ONE pocket, but still you’ll be digging to China before you ever lay your fingers on it.

Now legs. I bought the eos shave cream because I really wasn’t too keen on spending $20 on another bottle of Whish. I can pay higher prices for nice things, but I’ve decided shaving cream isn’t one of them. I’ve never tried the eos before, so was actually excited about using it – as excited as one can be about shaving their legs (about 25%). This is not a typical shaving cream, but an actual lotion similar to a body butter or something like that. And oh my gawd, I prefer this so much better! It feels so moisturizing on your skin, has a great scent, and makes it easier to shave. I’ll admit – since we’re friends and all – that my leg hair is coarse and manly. I will shave at 8pm and by 8am the day I already have a 5 o’clock shadow. It’s not fair and I dislike everyone that tells me they don’t have the same problem. However, the eos makes it feel smoother slightly longer.

Lord, are we done?

Almost. Hair stuff:

This Philip B ph Restorative Detangling Toning Mist is the strangest hair product I’ve ever used. It’s made with apple cider vinegar, and they don’t hide that fact one bit. Stinks like vinegar like it won a trophy for stinkin’ the best or something. And so of course you know I love it (cuz AWARD WINNER, albeit a fake one).

I’m addicted to the smell. It’s kind of like how a sewer can actually start to smell like burnt popcorn if you think about it real hard. And then you can deal with it. Not saying I enjoy the smell of a sewer. This was a terrible example.

I just like this spray. It does a good job of detangling and doesn’t leave a dirty film behind. I’m going to buy a full-size for sure.

Was I able to determine anything spectacular after the one-time-use packet of Davines OI/Absolute Beautifying shampoo? Surprisingly, there was something. Of course, I used it in conjunction with the conditioner (of which I have a ginormous jar; makes total sense) so it may have been the combo of those two together, but my hair was definitely smoother at the ends than in days past. Do you know how hard it is to come up with smooth ends after blow drying? About 95% of the time I look like the dirty end of a broom. So I was impressed to say the least. Will I buy the full-size then? After I finish my Carol’s Daughter, maybe so. We’ll see.

Last product is the Uberliss Hydrating shampoo and conditioner duo. This was less impressive. I didn’t feel like it did anything special to my hair at all, and life is too short to fiddle with nonsense like that. So I used it about 3-4 times and then let it go. Like a boss.

Okay, my dears. You’ve reached the end. How happy are you right now? (Sad. You’re var var sad.) No worries; more fun stuff tomorrow!

Oct31

Buying Stuff on Location: Las Vegas

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Dianna

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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!

Oct29

Glossybox | October 2014

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Dianna

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Hi boo boos. It’s Wednesday. Halfway to pajamas, so I can barely concentrate. Figured it would be a good time to review a box, you know, while I’m feeling my most professional.

Here’s Glossybox:

Well. I am not loving this one. Like there isn’t one thing in here that excites me. I’ll use two of the products, but even those are mediocre. I’d excuse this behavior if you are a $10 box, but you are not. You are a $21 box and therefore must be fabulous at all times. Do I need to be in charge over there? CEO at the minimum.

Okay, first mediocre thing is this Tarte Power Pigment lip crayon in the color Flush. Hold your wet noodles; let me explain. The product is fine. It goes on pretty smooth. Has a bit of a waxy texture, but that doesn’t bother me. Leaves your lips feeling pepperminty and cool. Plus the skinny tip gives you a more precise application. But it’s hot pink. I do not enjoy hot pink. Regular pink, yes. Hot pink can sit back down. I just feel it’s super flashy looking with my skin tone. Probably no one else would agree, but if I can’t be my own worse critic, what is the point of life? I ask you, WHAT. IS. THE. POINT. Now, if I would’ve gotten a mauve or a dark coral, maybe even a brownish nude, this entire blog post wouldn’t suck as bad as it’s about to.

Sheet masks. These things make you work for it. I have nothing against the one I got – Sesha Botanical Hydro Mask – but the instructions are as follows:

1) Remove pre-cut mask from envelope and place over clean face with moist side of mask facing downward. 2) Smooth mask over face starting with the nose area, then peel off plastic backing. 3) Leave on for 15-30 minutes. 4) Remove mask and gently wipe off remaining residue (no need to rinse).

Omg, are you tired yet? Cuz I am. That’s a lot of messing around for something that doesn’t quite give me the satisfaction level I get from a standard mask. And perhaps you are saying to yourself that these instructions aren’t really that big a deal, and that I could quite possibly be the biggest baby/complainer/annoyance that ever lived. But I say to you, NO! I am the biggest lazy person that ever lived, and that is var var different. In fact, if someone could just come into my bathroom and apply my mask on for me, that would be ideal. And while they’re at it, go ahead and bathe me. I seriously just want to lay there and nap.

Why am I not a princess?! Hmmmpf.

But back to the mask. This one is for soothing and calming the skin and gives you instant hydration. The hyaluronic acid in it binds itself to water and helps maintain moisture within your skin. That’s SCIENCE, people. So you may enjoy this mask. I think I’ll use it tomorrow maybe. Then I’ll let you know my true thoughts in a future Empties post.

Now I’m not saying the Nails Inc Matte top coat is useless and stupid. It’s just I already own one by OPI. How many matte top coats do you need? I’d say just one, but maybe I’m not the one to ask. If you’ve never used a matte top coat, the Nails Inc would be just as good as any, and you definitely need one in your collection. It really does do a cool effect on your nails. I haven’t done it for at least a year – which proves my theory that you don’t need more than one matte top coat – so I might have to do it again soon. I just don’t think about it when I’m doing my nails, as you know nail polish isn’t at the top of my list of favorites. Although I can appreciate something pretty and unique. Long story short – buy this if you don’t already have something like it.

And of course, we must now take a drastic downhill turn. I got the Vince Camuto Amore perfume, which by itself is probably just lovely, but have I mentioned before how much I don’t use perfume? A few times, maybe. Or at the very minimum, in every single post I write. Yes, I’m a broken record when it comes to perfume. I never ever ever keep it. I wish beauty boxes would do an “opt out” for perfume, so I can gladly check that box and then receive something more fabulous in its place. However, I am not in charge, which is a damn shame. Seriously, would it kill anybody to make me CEO? Would it? I mean, except for having savvy business sense or math skills, I’d be a pretty good one.

Just to be fair, though, let me describe the smell: fruity and floral at the top with cashmere, amber and sandalwood at the base. Does that mean anything to anybody? Nope, me either. It doesn’t stink. How about that?

Last item in the box is a definite regift. It’s the Proganix Volume Root Boost. What am I supposed to do with this? I don’t wash my hair more than twice a week; I don’t need to be putting in root booster to muck up my hair faster than normal. I’m perfectly fine with just blow drying upside down to give me a lift. Everytime I’ve used a root spray, I’ve turned my hair into a greasy, sticky, scummy mess and that’s not an exaggeration. So I’m passing on this one, even though it could be my dream come true, but who has time to experiment? I’m not washing my hair twice in one day if things don’t work out. Not even taking a chance.

Who’s the best blogger/product reviewer of all time? This girl.

The good news is that my friend loves root lifters, this seems to be a full-size product, and so my best friend score just shot up by the millions. In my opinion. She may be like, thanks for the $12 bottle of spray. And carry on with her life like NBD.

Well, you’ve reached the end of yet another exciting and informative post. Hope it was worth your time, and if not, then you need to reassess your life. Toodles!

Oct27

Birchbox | October 2014

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Dianna

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As you can see by the lack of posts over the weekend that I was unable to get out of the social time I was forced into by my husband. I’m sorry, I just like pajamas. If I’m required to wear actual clothes, chances are I’m hating every bit of whatever I’m doing. Unless I’m at Sephora. Or Ulta. Or Starbucks. But after all that, definitely not happy.

Here’s my Birchbox:

Ehhhhh. Did you just take a nap? Cuz I did.

Okay, that’s not fair. I got two good things and one okay thing. In the beauty box world, they call that success, don’t they? I mean, it’s hard to cater to everyone without irritating at least a few. I try to remember that, aside from being only $10 (which I can easily waste by idling my car with the heater on in the employee parking lot during my lunch hour), it’s hard to please 100% of the people 100% of the time.

Let’s do the poo-poos first. The Mally High Shine Liquid Lipstick. You’d think I’d love something like this. But then you would be wrong. For something to call itself lipstick, it sure is sheer. I own three of them now (not on purpose), and every single one of them is yes, shiny, but no, not a lipstick. Unless you like barely there color, or if you prefer something closer to lipgloss, then my advice is to pass. However, the formula isn’t sticky, so if I can say one nice thing, that’d be it.

Next poo is the Tocca perfume in the Florence scent. Nothing wrong with this if you like to own perfume. But if you’ve been reading my blog since the beginning of time (or roughly, December 2013) then you’d know how much I don’t like perfume. So seeing this in my box is never a welcomed sight. But for those who need to know, here are the notes: (top) bergamot, grapefruit leaves, green apple, pear; (middle) gardenia, violet; and (bottom) blonde wood, white musk. Seeing all that written out like that, it certainly sounds like something I’d enjoy smelling. And it doesn’t smell bad by any means. But I’m just gonna move on now cuz I’m boring myself to sleep. And this post ain’t even halfway done yet.

Things are starting to get a little better at this point. Received a little jar of the Suki exfoliating cleanser. This stuff smells very much like furniture polish, but then again, lemon-scented things tend to do that to me. I used it last night, and I liked how well it applied. The scrubby bits weren’t too harsh feeling. You add a little water to your face, and things start to foam up a bit. But my favorite part was wiping it away. It didn’t leave scrubby bit residue like some of the other exfoliators I’ve used. I don’t know if it was my lucky day or what, but usually I end up wiping these off my face for awhile, even after applying moisturizer. I’m not sure I love it enough to buy a full-size, but I will enjoy what I have while I have it.

Now we gonna end on a couple of high notes. I got a serum. Most specifically, the Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate serum. I’ve tried another of Paula Choice’s serums, and it was so nice (texturally). I’m excited to get to try another one. This one is labeled for dry or very dry skin. I have dry areas in the dead of winter, so I’m gonna have to wait before using. But that’s okay. I only have about 27 other serums to work my way through first.

Last but not least, and quite possibly the most exciting thing ever, is the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. I have been wanting Birchbox to send me something from Jouer for over a year and finally, finally, my dream has been realized. Don’t even ask why I’ve been so excited. It’s all part of my plan to own all the things which doesn’t make any sense to most people. I just needed something from Jouer. I didn’t even really care what it was. Is that stupid? Probably.

But this moisture tint is like a BB cream I guess. It’s moussey, has a decent amount of coverage, blends easily. Only comes in six shades, so I hope to God it self-adjusts. They sent me the Nude shade which is for light to medium skin. It was a decent match, so maybe it does color correct itself. The finish is definitely matte. I liked it. I thought my face looks pretty evenly toned except for some hideous discoloration on my cheek that will never die. The sample tube they sent was pretty small, so I don’t expect to use this for very long. But by that time, my curiousity about Jouer will have been sated and I can move on to other things. I can’t say quite yet if I care enough to pay full price. Have you seen my other 39 bottles of foundation? It’s quite a glorious collection if I do say so. They are my little foundation children and I love them all.

But what I’m saying is I don’t need another foundation.

Alright, I’m done now. I’ve got a very big evening planned full of pajamas and what not. See you again tomorrow! Bye.

Oct24

Ipsy | October 2014

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Dianna

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Hi gang. It’s Friday and hubby and I are headed to Little Rock for the weekend. I swear, I have never been so on-the-go in all my life. I’m like a little world traveler, what with Vegas a couple weeks ago; Springfield, Missouri last weekend; and now Little Rock. I’m no mathemetician, but I’m pretty sure that’s three separate times I’ve packed and unpacked my suitcase.

Before I go, here’s my Ipsy:

Well, the teal bag is cute.

Alright, so it’s not the worst box I’ve ever gotten. But out of everything, I kind of only mediocrely like about half. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think those are very good odds. I’m probably wrong. I’m sure in Vegas, 50/50 is a no brainer. But I just have terrible luck.

So let’s get started then. First thing is an exfoliating cleanser by Epice. I don’t use exfoliators very often, even though I know I should. It’s just, I take baths and after exfoliating I spend the rest of my time sitting on the microbeads that have sank to the bottom of the tub. It does not feel pleasant. However, nothing makes my face feel as smooth quite like a good exfoliation treatment. Roughly twice a month I’ll get in there and suffer for it as I know it’s a necessary evil.

I have not used this yet, just so you know. Reading the description, it says it will activate collagen production, and collagen is the thing that holds your face together. In other words, this is most likely a medical necessity. If I feel like spending $32 on the full-size, it should probably be tax deductible.

Received a cream highlighter by Doll 10 Beauty, a company I have never heard of. That is the joy of beauty boxes, getting to try out products from new-to-you companies. So even though I’m not a huge fan of cream highlighters, it was still cool giving it a go anyway. The color I got was this very light pearl. And swatching it, I was like woah, pretty. It truly was pearly, unlike any other highlighter I’ve owned. So it has that going for it. The instructions say to pat it on your skin, not blend it. If you have to blend it, then you’ve applied too much. You literally tap it where you want it then leave it alone. It’s a no frills highlighter for lazy people (like me!), and now I’m totally fine with it.

Got my one millionth mineral eyeshadow from MicaBeauty. It seems some box is always sending me one of these. Too bad I don’t like loose eyeshadow even though they sent me a pretty olive green shade. I dunno. Do people even use loose eyeshadows? What is the benefit? If someone out there has any words of wisdom, please share. At this point, they are just a mess waiting to happen for me. Regifted! Nexxxxxxt.

Y’all know how much I love adorable packaging. This Figs & Rouge hand cream is definitely that. I probably would have bought it all on my own if someone would have been clever enough to sit a display of it right next to the credit card swiper. I’ll admit to buying hoards of unnecessary products because they were in close proximity. Like toe rings or unscented chapstick (borrrrring). And if your packaging is cute, well that makes it even worse. This particular hand cream says it is Mango Mandarin scented, but unless that combo smells like a tube of Lil Smarties, then I believe they got the smell wrong. However, it still smells pretty good, the lotion is nice and cool, and then it sinks in pretty much immediately so you can go about your business without sticky lotion hands. I approve. Put it in your basket.

Last item is the one that I thought I would like the best. It’s a Starlooks lipgloss in the shade Guilty Pleasure. I have nothing against a rosy pink shade, but this one did not show up well on my lips, FOR ONE. For two, it was sticky and gross. Just did not like. As in, no thank you. Otherwise known as ewwwww. Aka, simply NO.

But you might like it so go ahead.

That’s it loverlies. I’m leaving town now. If I can sneak out of whatever party my husband has conned me into going to, I might be able to jump back in for another post over the weekend. However, he’s already informed me that that is RUDE and highly looked down upon. Pfffft.

Oct20

Sample Society | October 2014

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Dianna

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My daughter has turned 21 today, and I’ve got my alcohol speech all ready to go. I’m only a very slightly annoying mom. All other times, I’m plain adorable.

Here’s my Sample Society:

If this box made your face go like this: -__-

Then we are twins. There are two things in here that excite me, but all the rest puts me right to sleep. We were on such a roll there for awhile though, weren’t we? Just couldn’t maintain the momentum, I guess. Like everything else in life I suppose. I mean how quickly were you over shaving your legs as soon as you were finally allowed to? You know what I’m saying. About two weeks.

Okay, let’s review. The first poo is the L’Oreal Total Repair Extreme reconstructing shampoo and conditioner. If I can say one nice thing, I will mention the fact I got a matching set. It’s very annoying to get one half of the duo because what am I supposed to do with that? So because I got both things, I will use this at some point in the future. It’s for extremely damaged hair, which I don’t have, although I do flatiron it and you know that can’t be good. Especially because my ends are so fine and delicate. And they are easily irritated and tend to look like the dirty end of a broom even though I goop them up with conditioner every time I wash. Having said all that, I will let you know how this one fares. If a miracle happens upon my head, believe me you will be the first to know.

One thing I was super happy to receive is the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara. If you haven’t gathered from the past 132 posts, I have a mascara addiction. Any opportunity to try out a new one, I’m first in line. I’ve been known to buy random, unnecessary things from Sephora.com just so I can qualify for the free mascara sample. Cuz free is still free, even if you have to spend $25 to get it.

So this is a pretty nice mascara. It builds decent volume. Length is acceptable. Brush isn’t too big. I wasn’t like stopped in my tracks or anything – believe me, that has happened – but I wasn’t disappointed either (which has also happened – a lot). But most importantly, it was FREE, so even if it stinks it’s still pretty good.

Why keep a happy moment going when we can ruin it all to hell with just a few short words? Along the lines of “Bond No. 9 High Line perfume” or thereabouts. If you like the smell of bergamot, tulip, purple love grass, indian rhubarb, sea moss and musk, then you should buy this. Although I’m pretty sure three of those things aren’t actual things. Purple love grass especially. If this truly exists, then I want a whole front yard full of it. Anyway, y’all know perfume isn’t my thing, so this stuff could literally smell like little cucumber sandwiches in a garden full of exotic potted plants while drinking tea with the Queen of England, and I would still have to pass. I may never get my Ladyship for saying that, but I’m just gonna have to take that chance.

Then I got a packet of the Emi Jay hair ties. Not a beauty item, but a useful item at any rate. I have several of these hair ties, and I do like them. They don’t crimp your hair as much as elastic ties do. And if you have thicker hair than me, they probably don’t crimp your hair at all. Ummm … what else can I say about these? Turns out, not much. Moving on.

Let’s end of a high note, shall we? Received the Estee Lauder Dark Spot Correcting night serum. The fact it is a serum, it gets instant points. The fact it is dark spot correcting, it gets bonus points. I have a hideously splotchy complexion and anything that can make it less splotchy, and therefore less hideous, I’m all over. Looking forward to giving this a try.

Well, gang, that’s it for today. Got lots of birthday partying to get done, what with witnessing my daughter take her first drink of legal alcohol and then taking it away from her for the rest of the night and rest of her life. Completely normal behavior on my part, I know.

Oct15

Blush Mystery Beauty Box | October 2014

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Dianna

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I don’t know about you, but I could use another weekend. It’s hard coming back to work after 9 days off. I keep asking my husband what time I can stop working altogether and live the life of a princess like I was born to do. He looks at me as if I’m speaking Jibberish, so I’m not too sure he understands what I’m asking. I’ll keep bringing it up to him about 15 times per day to be sure.

Until that day arrives, here’s my Blush Mystery Beauty Box:

This is one of their better boxes. I’ll admit the last couple of months illicited big fat yawns, and I even contemplated canceling. Mind you, it was a fleeting thought, but a thought nonetheless.

Normally I don’t appreciate receiving a shampoo or conditioner without its counterpart. However, because I make exceptions to my own rules and also cuz I looooove the smell of this Klorane Desert Date shampoo, I am perfectly fine with receiving it. I already own the leave-in cream, and the scent is warm and exotic. Do you know what I’m saying when I say that? Like, it’s not fruity or smells like clean laundry or an ocean breeze (whatever THAT is supposed to smell like). It isn’t woody or spicy. It isn’t perfumey. You minus all those smells, and whatever you have left is what Desert Date smells like. I’m certain you understand me 100% now.

Reading the description online (because I haven’t gotten a chance to use this yet), it says it is for dry, damaged or brittle hair. I also just now discovered there is no matching conditioner for this shampoo, only the leave-in cream and a mask. I feel better, don’t you? You can’t receive the matching conditioner if there isn’t one. It’s basic mathematics.

Got another can of the Batiste dry shampoo. Otherwise known as my all time favorite dry shampoo in all the land. Serious, I even wrote a review on it that you can read here if you’d like. (You’d like.) In fact, I’m almost always in possession of a can of Batiste. I’ve never had any other brand “clean” my hair so well. Approved! Put it in your basket.

I have heard fabulous things about the StriVectin-AR retinol stuff, so I’m very excited about the Advanced Retinol Night Treatment. It also won a beauty award, and y’all know what that does to me. It could be slug trail for all I know, but I MUST. HAVE. IT. anyway.

We all know the best thing for anti aging is retinol. I’ll admit, though, I have zero products in my stash that has retinol in it. That’s because I buy products based on cute packaging, which I suppose is the wrong way to go about it. But if I can get an adorable Instagram picture out of it, my brain tells me it’s worth it. Am I ridiculous? Probably. But the good news is now I DO have a product with retinol in it, and I suspect by the time I finish this teeny tiny tube, I will have the face of a 14-year-old. I have an email into the company right now asking if this is a serum or a moisturizer, cuz my anxiety won’t let me not follow the rules. I don’t want my face falling off, which is bound to happen the very instant I branch out on my own science experiment. I’ll give you all the scoop in a future Empties post.

I have previously owned the Glytone Hydrate eye cream, which was the eye cream that wouldn’t die. Thankfully, however, it was a pretty nice eye cream; otherwise, getting a repeat would be hideously frowned upon. I like thicker consistency creams instead of those watery, thin ones, and I also prefer the kinds that sink into the skin quickly. Lucky for Glytone, it fits the bill on both fronts. So whenever I’m ready to use the same eye cream for the next 15 years, I’ll crack open the lid on this one. A little goes a long way, which means good value for your money. But it can also be very boring for those people that like to try different things. Cuz seriously, the product will replicate itself as soon as you think you’re just about done with it.

Last product in the box is a very pretty Cargo BeachBlush in the shade Cable Beach. First of all, the packaging is to die for. I love little tins. I’ve been known to buy really stupid stuff cuz in came in a tin. Like a candle that smells like a Desert Oasis, which isn’t an actual smell (or thing – have you seen a desert oasis? No you have not). Or a lip balm that doesn’t smell like anything at all. So my natural inclination is to love this blush. And while it didn’t stop me mid-swipe, or make my eyes fall out of my head in wonder, it is still pretty. I can bet I would’ve bought this on my own if I had seen it in a store.

Alrighty, friends. You’ve reached the end of another post. How amazing are you? (Very.) I’ll be back tomorrow with something new and exciting and extra extra ramble-y. Guaranteed. Bye!

Oct13

Buying Stuff: Episode 20

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Dianna

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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.

Oct12

Empties | September 2014

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Dianna

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Hi, gang. Hope all is well for you today. I went to Ulta and purchased two Carol’s Daughter Monoi hair masks for the price of one, so it’s been pretty successful on my end. In fact, I could probably just get back in pajamas for the next week or so and still come out ahead. Plenty of success to spread around, as you can see.

Here’s what I dumped out of my trash today. It’s empties time, people! Otherwise known as your FAVORITE TIME OF THE MONTH (for me, it just causes carpal tunnel). Enjoy:

I was trying to keep my t-zone oil at a controllable level, so thought I’d give the Urban Decay Deslick setting spray a chance. There were times when I felt it worked, and then there were other times when I was sure it didn’t. So, not sure what all that’s about. It was probably psychological brain trickery for the most part, which is how about 95.83758% of all my other makeup works. Would I repurchase? Probably. Cuz I’ve been brainwashed, that’s why.

One thing I’m almost certain works without any kind of magic, voodoo or witchcraft interference is the new Smashbox pore minimizing primer. I got a tiny packet sample plus another from the Sephora store, and I may be struck by lightning for saying this, but I’d swear it works better than the Benefit Porefessional. And I don’t say that lightly, considering I have caverns for pores and all. Like, if you have the skin of a 14-year-old, this stuff may make you disappear altogether. I truly liked it and I will be purchasing the full size as soon as I’m finished with my current pore filler.

I was so excited to try this Medusa’s Makeup Stick It eyeshadow primer because I’ve only used a handful of others and nothing is really a holy grail at this point. It had its good points, mostly the fact it wasn’t in a tube and the consistency was very smooth and light feeling. I actually enjoyed applying this every morning. However, the bad news is that I have a partially hooded left eye that didn’t want to cooperate, and my eyeshadow creased on me. I suppose, in retrospect, the primer didn’t set all the way, and my wonky eye just pushed it over the edge. Such a bummer I had to pass it along to my sister, but I know she will love it and care for it in a way I could not. I may still get visitation rights.

I absolutely loved the Dior Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum. It transformed some of my very basic mascaras into champions. The tube I got was just a sample, so it didn’t last very long, but I have another sample tube on the way as we speak which I’m very excited about. This stuff will fan out your lashes beautifully and make any mascara you put on top perform better than ever. After I use up my next sample, the full size is going in the basket. It will be interesting to see what happens to my lashes after continuous daily use. Perhaps it will solve all my problems. We shall see.

If you like silicone foundation primers, the Lorac POREfection primer is a pretty good one. Feels soft on the skin, and it will absolutely control oil. Or at least on me it did – probably cuz the silicone plugged up all my oil holes, which sounds possibly dangerous, but worth it, to me. I have found that silicone primers work best for minimizing t-zone oil. I don’t know if everyone already knows that, or if I just made some sort of breakthrough discovery, in which case, you are all my witnesses that I figured it out FIRST.

How about some hair and body stuff:

I was in a pinch. I had ran out of dry shampoo and didn’t feel like running an extra errand to Ulta for my Batiste. I was already at Walmart, about half an hour from pajama time, so an executive decision was made and the Not Your Mother’s dry shampoo landed in the basket. Was it a good call? Well let’s just say it wasn’t the worst I’ve ever made. I once jumped on a trampoline in boots, and that ended up way way worse than this. At first, I thought the dry shampoo was performing pretty good. Had a nice amount of powder, but not too much for those dark haired girls who don’t prefer it. But about 2/3 down the can, the powder power pooped out and blew plain canned air on me instead. It never recovered, so I had to move on. However, I will say I would definitely repurchase if I ever find myself at Walmart again with another dry shampoo emergency (which is an actual thing, just so you know).

Wanted to give the Body Shop body butters a try since they seem to be a pretty popular item, and heaven knows I can’t be left out of the loop. I chose Coconut cuz that’s my favorite smell, but also because I wasn’t that much of a fan of the other scent options. At first application, I felt this body butter was thick, creamy and very smooth and I did like it. But it was kind of sticky and took longer to sink into my skin, a fact I’m pretty sure no one else in the world but me has experienced. As indicated by the ridiculous amount of 5-star reviews on Ulta, so clearly you should not listen to me. However I’m not gonna buy another one, as my curiosity has officially been sated. The end.

And now, face stuff:

I used this TheBalm white tea rose cleanser for about two months straight and it just wouldn’t die. I was trying very hard to be patient and use the entire full size bottle that I purchased willingly and excitedly. But there was just nothing very satisfying about this cleanser that made me look forward to it every day. Yes, it cleaned my skin. It had a nice gentle rose scent. Other than that, though, what could I really say about it? I paid half price for it at Hautelook, so that’s something. And, ummm … I gave it to my husband to finish. So yeah. Nexxxxxt.

I’ve tried several cleansing milks over the past year, and came across some really nice ones. Ordered the Le Couvent des Minimes version cuz I needed a new brand to try, but most importantly, it came in a big pink adorable hat box that would look lovely stored under my bathroom sink for the next 15 years. Welllll, it would.

I did not enjoy this cleansing milk that much. It was super thin, and I prefer the thicker, cling-to-your-skin types. It did its job, don’t get me wrong, but other than that, I’m just thankful about that box.

I have no idea why I put this Chanel HydraBeauty eye cream in the photo as I already reviewed it in my Birthday Haul Part 3 post. Opinion still stands, so feel free to refer to the post for more info. I would link it for you, but certainly you can click back a few posts without breaking a finger, yes? Cuz you know, carpal tunnel on my end and all that. It’s a dire situation, obviously.

One product I did like was the Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel. This definitely is a cling-to-your-skin type, and I loved it. Felt soft as I applied it to my skin. Had a nice perfume-y scent, which may bother sensitive types, but I enjoyed wholeheartedly. I would have no problem repurchasing this as it is definitely special enough to merit a second round. Of course, I only have like 17 other cleansers to get through first, so you know, one day.

How about some wipies:

After a successful use of some Ole Henriksen wipes, I was hoping to find something similar at the drugstore that wouldn’t cost me three Starbucks’ worth. Decided on the Pond’s exfoliating wipes because they had an Allure Beauty Award sticker on them, and that sucks me in every time. Now these are nothing like the Ole ones, but they’re still a nice wipe. Smelled citrusy, a good size, and was adequately wet. I only use these in the morning to wipe away any oil that’s made its way to the surface while sleeping, so as an actual makeup remover, I cannot attest. You’re welcome for this thorough and informative review. Moving on.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are these unpleasant Lumene Sensitive Touch wipes. If you like small sizes, or barely damp cloths, then by all means give these a go. I, however, do not. Literally these dried out within minutes. I’m not sure if that’s the “sensitive” factor or not, but regardless, no thank you. And that Allure Beauty Award sticker? Blasphemy.

Lord, are we done? No. Here’s some makeup:

Had to toss this ModelCo eyeliner. It was mildly black, but most importantly, it transferred color to my wonky hooded left eye. I’ve never had an eyeliner do this, so not sure what’s wrong with it. Probably works just fine on someone without my hideous deformity. But for me, they’re a no bueno.

A long time ago, prior to the makeup obsession that has taken over my life, I was really good at applying liquid eyeliner. I would swipe it on like nobody’s business, 10, 15 seconds per eye tops. Then I had to go all OCD over everything makeup related and completely ruin my eyeliner mojo. So I have to toss this TheBalm Schwing liquid eyeliner cuz I can’t apply it for shit. I make a mess, or I get the hives just trying to make two matching eyelids. It goes lumpy, bumpy and completely hideous. It could be cuz the brush isn’t as precise as the Rimmell one I used in the past. Or it could be cuz I’ve lost my touch. Or maybe it’s cuz I’ve honed new skills, primarily in the anal-retentive perfectionist area. That’s probably more like it. I’m extremely anal-retentive. It’s hard being me, you guys. It’s just SO. HARD.

I very much enjoyed this Benefit Gimme Brow. I got the shade medium/deep since there are only two colors, but it’s a good match anyway. The tip on the wand is very small, so applying the gel to your brows is very easy and makes nary a mess. It’s not as precise as a pencil or a something applied with an angled brush, but it does fill in the fleshy gaps those with sparse eyebrows suffer from. And it’s quick quick quick, an ideal tool for rushed mornings. I will definitely repurchase one day, because even though I prefer a more detailed eyebrow, sometimes I run out of time to be a perfectionist and I’m forced to take shortcuts. Cuz apparently 90 minutes isn’t long enough to put on makeup in the morning. And time management is a foreign, non-existent thing.

I opened up my Benefit Sugar Bomb boxed blush the other day, and it was crumbled to smithereens. I have no idea how that came to be, as I don’t even use the blush that often. I can only assume it has a 3-year-old granddaughter written all over it. In any case, prior to its fateful demise, it was my very first Benefit blush I’d ever purchased. It had a mix of colors in it, but when blended together, pulled a peachy pink color. It wasn’t very dark – seemed like it would make more sense as a highlighter – but I did enjoy it while I had it. Very shimmery, though, so beware if that’s not your thing. I spent about one day trying to salvage the crumbled blush by pretending it was a loose mineral powder and everything was fine. Then I gave up the charade because I didn’t love the blush enough to care about it. I’m a horrible mommy, I know.

Last one – moisturizers:

I love sampling small tubes of moisturizer. I can get so bored by large jars, especially when the moisturizer isn’t anything special. I used this SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream within the span of about a week, and while I was okay with tossing it out, if it had lasted a little longer, that would have been fine too. The smell of this, though, was quite strong. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it wasn’t to die for either. However, it was very creamy, applied smoothly, and then left my skin feeling super soft once it sank in. Full size is $124, so I know I’ll never use it again. Maybe if it looked and smelled like chocolate pudding, I’d reconsider.

One product I did not enjoy is the Ahava Time to Smooth Even Tone moisturizer. I got a full size in my Beauty DNA box, which was all well and good. I was happy to have it. But I found no happiness in using it. The consistency wasn’t very creamy, and the product itself left a shiny, unattractive sheen on my face that seemed to sit there and not penetrate no matter how long I gave it. I tried my best to use up the whole jar because I absolutely hate tossing half empty products, but I just couldn’t do it. About 3/4 of the way through, I gave up. Surrendered. I’m not sure if that’s bad juju, and maybe the universe with revolt on me in a face-falling-off sort of way. Perhaps I will drop my glass bottle of Guerlain foundation on the floor (which would truly break my heart in a million pieces). But I threw karma to the wind and tossed it anyway. Who has time for unhappiness? Using unfulfilling products? Who likes to be disappointed every morning when putting on their moisturizer? Possibly crazy people.

Received a full size jar of the Le Couvent des Minimes moisturizer in that pretty pink hat box mentioned above. My husband and I were super adorable and split this moisturizer every evening. I might have forced him into it, but adorable nonetheless. This was a pretty good product. Had an almost silicone look to it – was a white cream but not completely opaque – and it was nice and soft. The smell was of roses, but also had a hint of cinnamon. I’m sure there wasn’t the least bit of cinnamon in it, but I dare you to not smell the same thing. It took us a long time to use this up as a little goes a very long way. And finally I just got bored with it and moved on to something else, as I am wont to do.

Okay, my loves, you have made it to the end of a very long post. I’m gonna go wrap my wrists up in a brace and take a nap. See what all I go through for my people? Do you see? I am nothing if not professional. Bye friends!

Snacks On Rotation

surprisingly, not a food blog

Buying Stuff: Episode 21

Empties | October 2014

Buying Stuff on Location: Las Vegas

Glossybox | October 2014

Birchbox | October 2014

Ipsy | October 2014

Sample Society | October 2014

Blush Mystery Beauty Box | October 2014

Buying Stuff: Episode 20

Empties | September 2014

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