Tag Archives: NARS

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

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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!

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!

Jun3

Buying Stuff: Episode 14

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Dianna

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So while I’ve been posting one box review after another, it may appear I have not been out shopping for new goodies. Hahahahahaha. Do you even read this blog? Lemme just put your mind at rest.

Birchbox had a little shipping delay and they were unable to get my box out on time with the rest of the world. They felt horribly guilty (as they should), so I was given $10 worth of Birchbox points to help make up for it. I will accept your apology, and buy myself this Cynthia Rowley eyeshadow with it:

These shadows were very powdery, but kind of in a good way. I thought they blended well and looked very nice on my eyelids. Perfect spring shades, even though we are now coming up on summer. But who follows tradition? Not me! I will wear my white pants in December if I feel like it. Even though they are a size too small now so probably shouldn’t do that. White pants are very unforgiving in a lumpy-thigh-skin sort of way. And if they cling to you like they are holding on for dear life – well, that’s not a look anyone should embrace. I mean, maybe supermodels, but then after that, NOBODY.

What am I going on about? I dunno.

Look at this little piece of artwork I made:

I have too much time on my hands.

I saw this beautiful purple and olive green NARS combo at Sephora and knew instantly I had to have it. If there are two colors more suited for each other than purple and green, please let me know. But also I have brown eyes, and if I’m not mistaken, purple and green are great complimentary colors for brown or hazel eyes.

Aside from all that, these are nice eyeshadows. Not extremely pigmented on me, but really, what do I know? Everyone else in the world disagrees, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I am very hard to please. We’ve established this already.

Speaking of pigmentation, or lack thereof, I present to you:

It’s Marc Jacobs blush. Should be amazing. Color in the pan looks to die for. Color on the cheek … not so much. I swear, I about got carpal tunnel swirling my blush brush over this thing, trying – desperately – to get it to release it’s beautiful lilac pinkness. I don’t even have dark skin. In fact, I’m on the lighter side of medium, and this barely showed up on me. No, I wasn’t expecting straight up purple cheeks, but come on! You are $30; now dadgum act like it.

If you’re curious, this color is called Outspoken. And I will say, once I sort of swirled enough of the ribbed impression off the top of the blush, the pigmentation increased a bit. Not gonna go out of my way to sing any praises or anything, but it did get better. Thank goodness, because y’all know I can’t be bothered to return anything back to the store.

Next up is this thing:

Now that I am a Sephora VIB Rouge, I get included on the secret emails that promote exclusive freebies with purchase. Never one to disregard an exclusive freebie, I got a sample of the Dior Dioraddict It-Lash mascara. I had it for about two seconds before I decided I needed a full tube. This stuff is awesome. It fans my lashes out like butterfly wings. I just love it. You can get your own tube now; it’s not just for VIB anymore. And I highly recommend that you should. Just do what I say. I am the boss of you.

Along with the Dior mascara, they had another VIB Rouge sample promo going on where I could pick three free deluxe trial sizes of an array of products. The next three photos is what I chose.

Why would I buy Urban Decay makeup setting spray? Cuz I don’t own any and I was curious if it actually worked. So I used it and honestly I can’t tell much because I don’t ever feel as if my makeup has fallen off. I don’t even know what that would look like. My face always has makeup on, and it always looks the same all day long. Do people actually have issues with their makeup just melting away as if nothing ever happened? Am I being naive? Am I being a butthole? Probably both.

I will say, however, that if I use a matte setting powder (currently It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores) then spray this on, my t-zone oil is less apparent. Like right now I just came in from outside where it is 90 degrees and hideous, and my forehead, nose and chin feel very dry. The good kind of dry. So perhaps there is something to this setting spray thing. I am going to do a scientific experiment tomorrow and use my setting powder and NO spray and see what happens. Because before I spent $30 on a full size bottle of this stuff, I need to know if it actually works and it’s not just the psychological brain trickery that seems to haunt me at every turn.

Another sample is this cutie pie:

It’s Benefit Fake Up Concealer. I got the shade medium and it seems to be a good choice for me. I have been using it for the past few days, and I may consider buying the full size. I like the way it blends out with my concealer brush. I probably already have a concealer that does this, but you don’t end up with hoards of makeup with that kind of logic. So we’re just gonna push that thought out of our heads immediately. And also, please disregard the fleshy hand. Who knew you could gain weight there?

You can never have too many cleansers. Here’s proof:

At one point, I owned the Boscia black illuminating mask, which was a super fun peel-off kind. Thought I’d give the matching cleanser a whirl. I haven’t used it yet as it’s in line behind 3 other cleansers, but hopefully I will use it before the end of the month. One thing to note about this cleanser, and perhaps its most endearing quality, is that it warms up as soon as you put it on your skin. I used to have a mask like that a long time ago, and I loooooved it. The warming sensation feels way better than a cooling sensation, so I’m really excited to give this a try.

Big nerd alert. Sorry.

Okay, this next item is the must luxury of all the items I’ve ever purchased:

Ummmmm, Tom Ford. That’s almost all I need to say about this, and you’d be nodding your head saying, Yes, girl, I know. Cuz that’s why you’re reading this blog: you understand. But for those that need explicit instruction, I will oblige.

Glossybox had $25 gift cards to Bergdorf Goodman in their May boxes, which I told you about (if you’ve been reading this blog like a proper human being). Well, I could have gone on their site and found something for $25 and end up getting it for free, but like a true makeup addict, I lose all sensibility and decide to buy something horrendously expensive so I could get a $25 discount instead. I mean, honestly, when would there be another chance to get a Tom Ford eyeshadow quad for $25 off? Never. These things don’t end up in the reject bin. It was my only chance.

So now I’m feeling pretty good about myself. I used it once (Silvered Topaz is the name) and it was very pretty as expected. It now rests inside it’s little brown velvet pouch inside my makeup drawer next to the Dolce & Gabbana and Dior eyeshadow compacts. Will I use it again? Probably. But more importantly, I own it. And that’s all that matters.

Below is a little Sephora haul:

Do not even ask why I bought that super dark burgundy metallic OCC Lip Tar. You already know the answer. In an effort to own all the things I had to get it as I didn’t have any OCC in the stash. But this color is gorgeous. I tried it on in the store, and wowza! If it was October and I had a big ol sweater on, this dark lip would’ve put the entire world in its place. It’s stunning. Plus, you only have to use a pin drop in order to get a full application. That’s not even an exaggeration. I will own this tube for at least 15 years. Talk about value for your money.

And if you’re of the curious kind, the color is Black Metal Dahlia.

Next item is the Buxom lip polish in the color Gabby. I love these things. I own three now. They have an addictive cool tingle that feels awesome on your lips in the summer. It literally makes you stop sweating. They don’t advertise that, but they should.

Ran out of makeup remover, so thought I’d give the Sephora brand a try. I always get the waterproof version because I feel it gets my mascara off way better than the regular kind. I’ve been using this for a couple weeks now, and I really like it. Does a great job. I think I will most likely repurchase this if I’m already in Sephora and I need some. However, for about $4 less, Ulta carries the Lumene brand and it works just as good. Never mind that Ulta and Sephora are in the same mall and I could easily go to either one to pick up eye makeup remover. I make up my own rules and exceptions to those rules, so just let it go. It’s a puzzle only I can figure out.

Last item in the Sephora haul is the new Bare Minerals Bareskin serum foundation with brush. I got a little sample of this and no sooner did I get it on my face was I out the door and standing in front of Sephora about 15 minutes before they actually opened. This is the most beautiful foundation I own, better than the Chanel (I’m sorry!) or the Shiseido (am I actually saying this?). I don’t even know if I can explain it properly, but here is my best effort:

If you have normal or dry skin, cancel all your plans today and get to Sephora or Ulta immediately. If you have slightly oily skin, get a sample first to see how it wears for you. The formula of this foundation is very liquidy and has a slight slick texture that may seem oily although it’s oil free. I have an oily t-zone, and I still love it, but I do set it pretty good with my transluscent powder. If you have oily skin all over, you may not like this. Again, try a sample and give it a shot.

The finish is just unreal. My skintone has never looked so even, and I have a very splotchy naked face. It’s not matte, and it’s not dewy, just somewhere in between. It’s lovely. Just lovely. I don’t even know why you are still reading this and not in your car on the way to the store. What are you waiting for?!

It does have an accompanying brush that I bought because it is quite unique. Looks like a flat top kabuki, but instead of it being completely flat top there is a little divot in the center, or a “well”, to drop the liquid into. I’m not sure of it’s purpose, honestly, so I think you could probably use any brush and get a great application. I will say that every time I’ve used this brush, it’s shed on me. Boo.

See below:

It’s a Z-Palette. At the time I bought this, I had nothing to put in it. I was just preparing to put stuff in it. I wanted some Makeup Geek eyeshadows, and all the beauty gurus put them in a Z-Palette. What’s good enough for them is guaranteed good enough for me. I’m easily influenced.

So I got my first batch of Makeup Geek shadows:

Picked out these colors cuz I felt they were very summery and fun. The green is called Appletini, then there is Yellow Brick Road, Last Dance is the purple-y shade, Frappe is a matte brown, and Mango Tango is the coral. These babies blend like a dream and I heart them sooo much! And now I’ve addicted myself. I have 5 more shadows on their way to me as we speak. In my defense, my Z-Palette holds 27 shadows and hell if I’m having a half empty Z-Palette. How tacky and gauche that would be. Pffft.

Last thing in the haul is more eyeshadow palettes because I can’t control my shoppin’ hand:

These are both from Sleek Makeup and they come straight from jolly ole England via the Royal Mail. Next up: lunch with the Queen. I know; so fancy! Anyway.

These i-Divine palettes are very inexpensive, about $12. There are several to choose from, and I feel I got the most varied of them all. The first one is called Snapshot and the second one is apparently limited edition (did not know!) called Lagoon. I used a few of the colors today, and they seems to be alright. I did feel like I was blending longer than necessary, but perhaps I was off my game this morning. But also I was trying to mix a yellow with a teal and a black, so maybe those need extra TLC anyway. Can’t wait to play around more and try out some very fun looks. If I go to work looking like a clown, it’s all in the name of research.

That’s it guys. Ginormous haul. But I got paid today so don’t worry, more is already on its way. I waste no time. In fact, if I’d treat every aspect of my life in the same way I treat my makeup addiction, I’d probably be President by now.

Toodles!

Jan28

NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Dianna

Standard

Oh, NARS. What have you done?

Made me spend $79 on an eyeshadow palette, that’s what.

I have never in my life spent that much money on eyeshadow. Granted, I just started getting into makeup a mere five months ago, therefore never spending any money on any makeup is more like it. Now, however, I will drop $40 on foundation without a blink, $22 on lipstick with nary an eye twitch. I’ve been desensitized to high-end makeup prices. It’s because I want to own all the things. We’ve discussed this already.

Anyway, saw the NARS NARSissist eyeshadow palette on the internet somewhere, and immediately fell in obsessive stalkerish kind of love. Look at all these beautiful neutral, smoky colors:

Gah! I die.

The colors are not displayed on the palette itself, or even the box it comes in. So I stole this information off the internet. Top to bottom, left to right, the names are All About Eve I, Madrague II, Fez, Bali, Coconut Grove, Madrague I, Nepal, Ashes to Ashes, Brousse II, Mekong, Bellissima I, Lhasa, Bad Behavior, Dogon II, and Pandora II. I’m not ashamed to admit I printed out the names on my label printer and stuck them to the back of my palette. Big dork, right here, y’all. Sorry. (Not sorry.)

I am an obsessive compulsive, anal retentive, perfectionist. Just putting that out there as a disclaimer for all the weird crap I do in future blog posts. Cuz there be several. Guaranteed. And don’t worry about me destroying the sanctity that is the purity of the NARSissist palette. The labels are in extremely tidy, kempt rows, evenly distributed and pleasing to the eye. In fact, I think I’ve actually improved the aesthetic of the whole thing. Trust me, it’s perfect.

Anyhoo, back to my point.

I received this in the mail over the weekend after an insanely long one week and one day wait. It was absolute torture, believe me. So much torture that I even told my husband I was expecting it any day now, and therefore admitting I bought more stuff. I think we’re still married, so all is well for now.

One thing about this palette is that these shades are not new. They are all part of the NARS collection, so if you are a die-hard NARS fan, you may already own these either in singles or part of a duo. The benefit of owning this palette would simply be a nice, neat place to keep these all together (OCDers, rejoice!). Or, if you are like me and do not own any NARS shadows, you can purchase this kit without reservation and enjoy.

So I’ve been using this palette for the past three days, mostly in the blue/pewter or taupe/purple family, throwing in a matte beige for the crease and deep black for emphasis. And I swear I’ve been trying very hard to do such a good job but I tell you what, if you want to spend light years blending in your eyeshadow, then you’re in for some fun. I was quite literally running a big fluffy brush through my outer V for about 20 minutes and still not satisfied. So I gave up, accepted it for what it was, and moved on.

Can’t say I’m unhappy with this palette. I still have several other shades to try which I will get to later this week. I just feel slightly bummed that my expectations got the best of me. And that I’ve been extra late for work two days in a row. If they only knew what was happening in my bathroom in the morning. Blending, blending, blending, napping, blending, blending, blending … It’s a nightmare.

Maybe I need to practice my eyeshadow skills in general before attempting to use this palette. I mean, I’m no expert. Sometimes I attempt those fancy manuevers you see on You Tube only to be left with a prostitutey mess. I will say after purchasing some proper brushes, I’ve gotten better but still feel I have miles to go.

So take this review with a grain of salt. I am a beginner, and I might have reached for the stars too soon. If NARS wants to be a little complicated, then by all means go for it. Perhaps my definition of complicated is simply from a newbie’s perspective and I should just zip it. I dunno. But if you are a master of makeup, and you’ve tried this palette, I am interested in hearing what you think.

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Tag Archives: NARS

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NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette

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