Project Pan, Winter 2016: Neutrals and Brights

Hello hello! It’s time to share with you the makeup products I plan to use during the Winter 2016 season! Last season, I played around with some extreme smoky eyes and bold lip colors; this season, I wanted to experiment with colorful eyes and neutral lips. I’m excited to try some new things! If you’re familiar with fall’s Project Pan, you know that this isn’t a true PP challenge; this is a way for me to spend some quality time with makeup products I’ve bought and have never really used. It’s like a makeup date. For the next twelve weeks, I’ll be using these products on my face exclusively until the beginning of the next challenge, when I get my summer makeup out in March.

I suppose I’ll start with things that carry over from the last challenge. I won’t mention too much about essential things like foundation and primer, but there is a bit of overlap.

Face
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve written a makeup post lately without talking about this primer. Yes, it’s a big player in this look.

NARS All Day Luminous Foundation in Siberia

When I ran out of MAC Studio Fix Fluid, I was torn over what to replace it with. Part of me wanted just to get another bottle, because it actually was a good fit for me. I’m a person who likes to try new things, though, so I decided to go for a different foundation. There’s a part of me what wishes I’d just stayed with the MAC, though. I like the NARS foundation enough, but the thin consistency is annoying sometimes, and it’s not as neutral as I thought it would be. I’ll keep using it, but I probably will return to Studio Fix Fluid once it’s gone.

MAC Select Cover-Up Concealer in NW15

Yep, this again! I probably shouldn’t bother to include it since I used it like all of twice last cycle, but I already had the photo, so here it is.

NYX Radiant Finishing Powder in Brighten (pictured above)

I have a love/hate relationship with this powder. I love how complete it is; not only does it set makeup beautifully, it also brightens, color-corrects, and illuminizes, like it’s many products in one. However, it doesn’t keep oil in check, and the luminizing feature ends up making me look even more shiny than I am. It’s perfect for cool weather, but a no-go in the summer. I’m trying to use it up.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NW10

This powder is the best! The full coverage basically renders my concealer obsolete. Using it over liquid foundation is probably overkill, but it’s really the best complement to medium-coverage foundation. In the fall and winter, I want all the coverage I can get, and this helps me get there.

Marc Jacobs Glowstick in Spotlight

Remember this? Since I’m using neutral colors for my lip and cheeks, I wanted a neutral highlighter, and this was the best one. When I reviewed this, I reported that it was super creamy and blendable, but that was over the summer. Now that tepmeratures are lower, the stick isn’t quite so creamy, and it’s not as easy to use and apply. It’s a little disappointing.

MAC Powder Blush in Taupe

During fall’s challenge, I only used this for contouring my nose, chin, and forehead. I’m also using it as a blush this time around because I wanted a neutral base look. In this capacity, it hovers somewhere between blush and contour, and I really like it.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

Yes, this again. It’s still not dried out, so I’m gonna keep using it.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes in Brunette

Yep, this too.

NYX Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray in Matte Finish

This stuff goes a long way to keep me from looking powdery and unnatural. It doesn’t keep me mattified, but it makes my makeup look dewy and fresh. The bottle is almost empty; I’m definitely going to repurchase.

MAC Fix+ Finishing Spray (pictured above)

Having two facial sprays is probably overkill, but I feel like there’s a place for them both. The NYX spray sets my foundation, but I still use a setting powder, just for safety. The Fix+ spray keeps that last dusting of powder from looking too powdery. Probably unnecessary, but I like it.

Eyes
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly

Painterly is also making a return in this cycle. I’d rather be using an actual primer, since my lids are kind of oily and creamy products like this have never worked for me in the past, but I’m making it work.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean and Milk

Black Bean was a godsend last cycle for my ultrasmoky eye, so I’ll be using it for the same purpose this time around. I’ll also be using the Milk pencil for extra-white whites and extra-bright brights. These pencils make eyeshadow look the way it’s supposed to look.

Urban Decay Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

I’ve had this palette for a while, and I’ve never used it until now. I chose a colorful palette to go with this look that’s otherwise very neutral; I wanted eyes that really stand out. I’ll talk more about this, keep reading!

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyed Pencil in Zero

For my eyeliner needs.

NYX Big and Loud Lash Primer (pictured below)

I talked at length last time about my love for lash primers, and I’m still very happy with this one.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

This is a sample I’ve had in the drawer for a while, and I’m finally using it! I don’t really care for it, to tell the truth; the formula is fine, but the brush is huge and I don’t like huge mascara wands. I find them difficult to work with.

Lips
MAC Prep + Prime Lip Primer

This is my favorite lip primer! It’s practically gone; in this photo, it’s twisted all the way up, and I’ve been using a lip brush to apply it. I can’t wait to buy another one!

Obsessive-Compulsive Cosmetics Cosmetic Colour Pencil in Anti-Feathered (not pictured)

My favorite clear lip liner! Sometimes I overdraw with this, or underdraw, because it’s invisible. Lately, I’ve found that the MAC lip primer is enough to keep my lip color on, so I’ll probably phase this out once it’s gone.

Obsessive-Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Sebastian

I forgot to shake it up.

When I started building this look, I started by choosing a lip color at random, and this is what I got, and it’s the part of this look I’m the most excited about. It’s a color I’ve never really worn before, a color I’ve never really seen on people. At first, I wasn’t too sure about it and nearly put it back. I put it on, though, and I loved the way it looks on me. Sure, it’s not a conventional color, but it’s strangely wearable while also quite unique. I am really enjoying it.

The Process

While looking at densely populated palettes like Vice 3, I’ve often wondered what would happen if I wore the colors as they’re placed. Sure, it’s not organized to be worn a certain way, but I’ve always wanted to try wearing shadows one line at a time to see what the colors would look like, and just to experiment with different combinations. That’s the idea behind the eye looks I’ll be doing with this palette. In my first week, I’ll be using Vanity, Lucky, Reign, and Bobby Dazzle together.

I used the Milk pencil on my lower lid with Painterly on the upper lid and brow bone. I then applied Bobby Dazzle all over my lid. Can you see the difference? It’s a stark white on my lid, but a gentle shimmer on my browbone. I worked Lucky and Reign into my crease, and used Lucky and Vanity on my lower lashline. Starting with this column of shadows made this one easy; I’m definitely looking to some of the others being a challenge.

Here’s the whole look! Everything on my face is mentioned in this post. I plan to do a different eye look each week to match my Manicure Monday look, and I’ll post the eyeshadow of the day on Instagram, so follow me there to stay up to date. I won’t do any update posts until the very end. I hope you’ll follow along with me!

The Marc Jacobs Glowstick was sent for review, which is linked here. This post is not related to that review, and my opinion is not swayed by free stuff.
Everything else I purchased myself.

Project Pan, Fall 2016: Rose Quartz + Serenity-Inspired — Conclusion

Hi Reader! You might remember that I started a twelve-week beauty challenge where I committed to a handful of products for the whole twelve weeks. I called it a Project Pan, but since I’m not using them until I hit pan or use them up, it’s not the most accurate name for it. I did, however, completely my twelve-week obligation to them, so I’m doing one last update post to talk about what I did use up or hit pan on before I move onto the Winter 2016 challenge. For detailed product information and swatches, please see my first post for this challenge.

The sun has set.

As I mentioned in my first post, the products I chose were based loosely on Pantone’s Colors of the Year for 2016, with some black thrown in for fun. I had a blast with these looks. I left the house with black or blue lipstick on for the first time since middle school. I felt edgy, fashion-forward, and bold. I forgot what I looked like without crazy raccoon eyes. I’m a little sad I’m putting all this stuff away, but I made some progress with these products, and I’m sure they’ll come out of the drawer again someday. For now, I’m happy to be moving on to new things.

Empties: 4
Let me talk first about the things I used up. I didn’t use up any products unique to the challenge, but instead used up some essential products and replaced them. I wrote about the MAC primer and foundations I used up in previous Empties Roundups. I also finally decided it was time to part with the Clarins mascara. I finished my MAC foundation up and went for NARS, I used up a Revlon powder and went back to MAC Studio Fix powder, I used up the MAC primer and went back to Smashbox, and I tossed an old mascara. That’s four empties.

Pans: 3
Honestly, I’m surprised I hit pan on anything. I hit three, though, and I’m pretty proud of myself! Have a look at that NYX eyeshadow trio. The champagne and matte black were my workhorse shadows for this look, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I hit pan on those. It’s just that I’ve used some shadows for years and I still have yet to pan those, but I can pan these in twelve weeks. Maybe they’re small pans. I’m happy I panned the compact, because that’s a thing I’ve had for years. It’s nice to see progress made!

Notable Mentions
Lipglosses
I didn’t think I used up so much of the glosses, and I almost feel a little bad about it. These are two great colors that I should really think about wearing on their own someday.

The quality is low on these before photos because, foolishly, I didn’t keep the originals, only the edited versions.

Highlighter
Check out the fill lines on the High Beam! I’m surprised I used that much of it. A dab here and there really makes a difference!

Lipsticks
I didn’t put too much of a dent on Saint Germain, but Blue Velvet and MUFE #50 are visibly used. Blue Velvet looks the most worn-down. It seems like every time I went out, I had the blue lip on, and I feel like maybe I did use it more than the others because I was always touching it up. Obviously, when your attention is divided over three lipsticks, you’re not going to wear them down as mucha as if you’d only focused on one. You’ll also remember I had a fourth lipstick in the main post, but since I only used it once (when I saw family), I didn’t include it in the final post.

Lip Primer
Here’s my MAC Prep + Prime Lip, turned all the way up. Yeah, I’ve got to dig in there with the brush now to get to the product. It’ll be time to replace it soon!

The other eyeshadows
I don’t really want to include these, but I made the graphic, so I have to include it. Compared to the NYX shadows, I didn’t really use these at all, and so there’s practically no difference between the befores and afters. No surprise there. I really did think I was going these more when I started.

Facial sprays
While the MAC Fix+ is a relatively new purchase, so it’s not as used-up as the NYX Setting Spray is. You can see the fill line through the clear bottle. The NYX spray, while I can’t tell how full it is, it feels pretty light and, when shaken, it doesn’t sound like much is in there. It’ll be time to replace that soon, too!

I only included the products that show visible use or wear. There were a lot of things I included in the look that weren’t used-looking enough to warrant sharing. Some of the products in this look were being used for the first time and didn’t really show signs of wear. Some of them were only applied once, like blush and eyeliner, and don’t show much use. Some of them, like the Eyetini and Heavy Metal liners, were used all of twice. The most often used products were the ones with the most drastic signs of use, and that’s what I included.

And there you have it, twelve weeks of weird blue lips and raccoon eyes is over! Stay tuned for the Winter 2016 Project Pan!

I bought these products myself.

Empties Roundup: November 2016

Guess what, reader? It’s finally time for the Empties Roundup for November 2016! I don’t know about you guys, but November was a rough month for me. I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, I wrote a novel for National Novel Writing Month, and between those two things a lot of my other responsibilities were neglected. I even neglected my poor blog, and I’m still catching up. Better late than never. Enjoy the empties!

JP Orange Spice Hand Soap

This is what you get when you send Boyfriend out for hand soap. Like you kind of expect him to get something nice, because by now he should know what you like. Instead, he spends the least amount of money possible. This soap smelled all right at least, but it took a lot of product to finally come to a lather — how else am I supposed to know my hands got clean otherwise? I replaced this with some L’Occitane soaps I found in a thrift store. Yeah, you read that right: thrift store soap is better than this.

Orly French Tip Guides

Ahh, the original nail vinyls. I can’t live without these, and I bought another box as soon as I emptied the last one. These are super helpful for French tips and half-moon manis and I will always rebuy them.

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Super Hydrating Hand Cream

I love Pacifica products, and the blood orange scent could be my favorite. Well, besides all the others. I love everything they make! I actually got this from the Target clearance bin. It did moisturize my hands a lot, but they would occasionally still feel dried out after dishwashing, so I went through it pretty quickly. I’ve moved onto another Pacifica lotion, this one in the Indian Coconut Nectar scent.

Bath and Body Works Shower Gels in Maui and Oahu

I’ve done it, I’ve finally finished up my B&BW shower gels. I may have a few others stashed away somewhere, but these ones are finally gone. I don’t think either of them were too full; Oahu was a good half full, even fuller before I used it to wash makeup brushes a couple times. Maui was mostly done and I think I only got a couple uses from it. I haven’t repurchased any other shower gels; I’m going to see if I can put a dent in my soap collection.

Briogeo Blossom and Bloom Voluminizing Blow-Dry Spray (mini size)

I got this in an ipsy bag forever ago, but I only just started blow-drying and heat-styling my hair, so I’d only gotten around to using it this November. I think I used this up at the beginning of the month, and I really miss it. The scent was lovely, and it left a nice softness and shine on my hair. I bought Not Your Mother’s blow-dry spray when this ran out, and I like that one too, but I’d rebuy this in a second if I saw it on a shelf.

Hickory Ridge Organics Dead Sea Salt Scrubs in Coconut, Spearmint Eucalyptus, and Mango

So of all these products, these are the ones I’m most excited to talk about. These are local-ish products, made in St. Augustine, Florida, which is just a half-hour drive from where I live. Boyfriend and I went to St. Augustine for my birthday this year, and while we were wandering, I found the HRO shop and got a little crazy. I liked these scrubs a lot; the scents were really strong and the oils were plentiful and very moisturizing. My one gripe is that the salt pieces were kind of large and rounded off. I like a scrub with gritty, abrasive bits, and this one was a bit too gentle. Also the labels are not waterproof. That said, I hope to buy more of these on my next trip there. For now, I’m back to the Shea Moisture scrubs.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NW10

I’m pretty proud of this one, too, because this is like three years coming. I loved this foundation, and I’m proud to have used up the whole thing. I don’t know if you can see the fill line; it’s not really a fill line, just the foundation on the very bottom of the bottle that the pump couldn’t get to, and it’s just enough that it just coats the walls of the bottle instead of trickling out if I turned the bottle upside-down. I’m a little sad to see it go. I decided to try NARS’s All Day Luminous foundation when this ran out, and even though I like it enough, I wish I’d just repurchased this one. Side note: I just panned the powder I bought with this foundation.

Castelbel Jasmine and Hyacinth Soap Bar

This was a huge bar of soap, so huge and so egg-shaped that it was really awkward to hold and use in the shower for a long time. Recently I dropped the last little sliver on the shower floor and it broke into a dozen soapy little pieces. I got an oatmeal soap from Trader Joe’s (another Boyfriend pick) out of the drawer.

And there it is, nine days late, the Empties Roundup for November 2016! Have you used any of these products? What did you use up? Let me know in the comments!

I bought these products myself.
Except for the ones Boyfriend bought himself.

Manicure Monday: Gold Greed

Welcome to Manicure Monday, which is actually on time for once! It usually gets published early Tuesday because Mondays are dumb and I never have time for everything, but today I do! This week’s was done with MAC’s Neptune and GOSH’s Greed.

img_70562

img_70602

It’s gold and it’s shiny, and both of these polishes are souvenirs from my trip to New York a couple of years ago. I miss New York. Neptune came from the Macy’s flagship store, and Greed came from a Duane Reade in Penn Station. I’m a little ashamed that I can still tell you where I bought everything; I can remember this, but I can’t ever remember to put olive oil on the shopping list.

img_70662

The red is a reflection from my red sweater.

img_70722

So the polishes are really similar, and that’s why I paired them together. They both have this burnished gold look to them; Greed is a little lighter, and Neptune has a green shift when the light hits it just right, so even though they blend into each other some, there’s enough there to set them apart from each other. At the very least, it’s cohesive and easy.

img_70752

img_70812

In the sunlight, these glitters really sparkle. It’s easy to forget those silver holo ones are in there because the big gold ones steal the show. These photos were taken in direct sunlight.

img_70332

img_70432

img_70382

img_70512

Neptune was a MAC limited edition and has since sold out; other MAC polishes are available at MAC and in some department stores. I’m not sure where to tell you to get GOSH polishes in the US, other than Penn Station Duane Reade.

I bought these polishes myself.

Empties Roundup: September 2016

It’s the end of the month, and you know what that means: Empties Roundup! It’s the end of September, and I’ve got a lot of stuff to share. Let’s get started!

La Lavande French Triple-Milled Soap in Gardenia

img_53492

So obviously this wrapper has been empty a long time, you can’t really use a bar of soap without wrapping it. But yes, I did hang onto this wrapper longer than I want to admit just to photograph it and then write about it. It was really nice soap; it lathered well, had a strong gardenia fragrance, and didn’t dry me out. It took me a couple months, probably, to use the whole thing. I replaced it with another soap bar from my shamefully large soap hoard.

L’Occitane en Provence Shea Butter Hand Cream, 30ml tube

img_53532

I love this stuff. I love L’Occitane. This was the last tube from a L’Occitane hand cream sampler from Sephora and I’m so sad they’re all gone now. They all made my hands feel so soft and moisturized, and they were the perfect handbag size. My new handbag lotion is Pacifica’s Tuscan Blood Orange because it was on sale at Target.

Model City Cuticle Oil in Cactus Flower

img_53632

I’d been using this for so long there’s practically no label left. Believe it or not, I bought three of these bottles and this is the last one. It lasted forever! It did a fanastic job of moisturizing and smelled wonderful. I’m now using an oil from Smokey Mountain Lacquers from my expanding cuticle oil stash.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

img_53712

Here’s another product I use on the regular. I know it’s for dry skin, and as such, it makes me feel a bit oily after a while. It doesn’t break me out, so I just deal with it. I’ve decided to try a new one though, Cetaphil’s daytime moisturizer lotion. I’ll probably come back to it if the new one doesn’t work out.

Revlon’s Photoready Powder in Translucent

img_53752

Project Pan has its first casualty! This was actually most of the way used-up when I started the project, so I don’t think it counts, but it is nice to use up something. I’m actually undecided on whether I’d buy this again. I really liked it over BB cream; it helped smooth out imperfections that weren’t 100% covered, and made me look more done-up than I was. On the other hand, it wasn’t a setting powder, which was really what I wanted. It didn’t make me feel finished, it felt pretty creamy a long time after applying. For now, I’m using another powder from my stash, Benefit’s The Pore-fessional Agent Zero Shine.

Bath and Body Works’s Butterfly Flower Shower Gel

img_53792

Another month, another empty shower gel. I forgot how nice this fragrance was! It’s pretty strong in the shower, but after drying off, it’s really subtle. Of course, lotion in the same scent helps with a fragrance’s staying power, but sometimes I don’t want to smell like a perfumery. Also I’d used up the lotion months ago.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day hand soap in Peony

img_53862

I’m so glad I finally tried these! I was complaining to a friend about how hard it is to find a good hand soap. Antibacterial ones break my hands out so bad, and they’re bad for you in general, so I spent a lot of time looking for The Soap. A friend recommended I try this brand out and when I saw this at Target, I scooped it up. I’ve since replaced it with another Mrs. Meyer’s soap, this time in Geranium.

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

img_53912

I love Shea Moisture products, and their hair masques and deep conditioners are products I always rebuy. I probably use them more than I do actual conditioner. This one made my hair feel very soft and easy to detangle. It also smells lovely! I loved it, but as I like to try new things, I’ve replaced it with Carol’s Daughter’s Sacred Tiare restoring hair mask.

Lubriderm Advance Therapy Lotion

img_54222

This is my favorite lotion. It moisturizes, it smooths unhappy skin immediately, and it doesn’t have any fragrance. The fact that it’s fragrance-free is probably my favorite, because I can use it with any bath product. I hate it when fragrances compete! I have three bathrooms in my house and there’s a bottle of this in each one. That’s kind of a lie, because I haven’t replaced it right away. I bought a JĀSÖN lotion this time because it was on sale at Target.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Primer

img_46432

Another Project Pan casualty that doesn’t quite count, because it was basically empty when I pulled it out. I didn’t expect to have to replace this AND the Revlon powder at the same time, but here we are. I’ve been thinking of trying another foundation — maybe NARS or Kat von D — and so I don’t want to buy another primer until I’ve decided on a foundation. For now, I’m using a backup Smashbox sample I’ve had bumming around, but I’ve already had to cut the tube open, so I’m kind of running out of time. It’s also the last empty I need for a Back 2 MAC lipstick, so I’m not too sad about it.

And there you have it, nine products that have gone to the big beauty counter in the sky. I wonder if I’ll ever have an Empties Roundup this large again. What did you use up this month?

I bought all these products myself.

Project Pan, Fall 2016: Rose Quartz + Serenity-Inspired

Hello hello! Today’s post is a little different from my usual fare. Makeup posts are pretty uncommon here, and I’m hoping this post will be the start of something new and fun. As you know, in the northern hemisphere, the autumn season is now upon us. Last week, I begrudgingly put away my summer clothes, and this week, I put away my summer makeup. I’m sad about summer ending, but I’m excited about digging some new things out of my collection. Warning: this is a pretty pic-heavy post.

This isn’t a Project Pan challenge as much as a challenge to commit to things I’ve never used, or have had a long time. Sure, hitting pan on these products is an ideal outcome, but really I just want to give this stuff some love. There’s a reason I buy everything I buy, and it deserves better to sit around and languish in a drawer, right?

img_45622

The products I’ve chosen for this season’s challenge were inspired in part by Pantone’s Colors of the Year, Serenity and Rose Quartz. There’s also a lot of black because I read at the beginning of the year black was going to be huge in spring. I don’t know if that panned out (hah) or not, but I loved the idea of pastels and black together, so that’s what this look is about. Typically, I buy the official products from Sephora, but this time I wanted to see if I could pull a look together without having to buy anything new. You’ll also see there’s a ton of stuff here, I guess I should note I don’t plan to wear all of this stuff at once. Let’s get to the products!

Face

img_45902

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Primer

img_46432

At the start of every makeup look is a workhorse primer. I bought this primer around the time I bought my foundation, so I’ll likely be running out of it before the challenge ends. I rather like how it works with the foundation, but it’s not my favorite primer ever. I really prefer the ones that feel less like moisturizer and more like a balm.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NW10

img_46472

I’ve had this bottle for about two years now, I think. I only use it half the year, so it’s lasted me a long time. I’ve not been too fond of it, actually. I bought it because I was so pleased to have found a pale-enough foundation, but I really wish it had more coverage. If I finally run out this fall, I’ll be trying some new options.

MAC Select Cover-Up Concealer in NW15

img_46362

I’ve had this concealer as long as the foundation, and I’ve rarely used it. I didn’t like it under my eyes, but I use it occasionally, when I have a nasty zit or something. This is more of a just-in-case item.

Revlon Photoready Powder in Translucent (not pictured)

I was in a tight spot when I bought this powder and I fully expected to hate it, but I actually kinda liked it. I used it a good bit over the summer and it made my BB cream look like smooth foundation. I’m unsure if I’ll buy it again, but I’ve enjoyed using it.

Benefit High Beam Illuminator

pp2016bhbim

This is a product that’s been in my makeup bag way too long. I never really used it — or any highlighter — because I was afraid of looking too shiny or overdone or what have you. The Marc Jacobs Glowstick post I did some weeks back taught me not to fear the highlighter, and I started using High Beam with my regular routine. I’m not the biggest fan of it; it’s watery and doesn’t blend well into powder, but it’s already halfway gone, I can deal.

MAC Powder Blush in Taupe

pp2016mpbtm

Here’s my contour shade! I feel like it’s a bit dark, but that’s what they gave me at the MAC counter, so here we are. I’m using a light dust around the sides of my nose, my hairline, and my chin. I’m not contouring my cheekbones here because my face lacks the natural cheekbone shape, and I can’t figure out how to contour without just looking like I got dirty.

Korres Zea Mays Blush in 16 Pink

pp2016knpzmpbpm

Now this is something I’ve had for a few years now. I love a pretty pink blush, and I thought pink would be the best color for a look with so many cool tones in it. This is also something I have to use with a light hand.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

img_46152

I use this year-round actually, and I’ve probably had this one particular tube for longer than I should. The spoolie is still wet and delivers product, so it’s still good to me. I’ll probably use it until the spoolie is dry and crusty and has dingleberries on it.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes in Brunette

pp2016rqsabhbem

I tend to let my eyebrows go a little in the summer, but in the fall and winter, when I’m putting a little more effort into my look, I actually take the time to fill them in. I don’t use the wax in here too often, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever used the shadows, but the brow powders are pretty great. Sorry about the palette photo, I should have cleaned it up a little before I took it. Even I’m a little grossed out by that one.

NYX Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray in Matte Finish (not pictured)

I’d heard a lot of good things about NYX’s setting sprays, so when I finally saw one — when my local Target’s NYX display finally looked like it hadn’t been picked over by wild animals — I picked one up. I love a good setting spray, even if it does seem like a really frivolous product.

Eyes

img_46562

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly

pp2016mplpppm

This cream eyeshadow is doing double-duty as my eye primer this round. I love this stuff; it doesn’t budge and lasts forever. Nearly everything I put on over it looks amazing and stays on until I take it off.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean

img_47522

So I said Painterly is a perfect base for nearly everything, right? Black shadow looks fine over it, too, but could still use some help. Black Bean is like a helper primer for this look. When I use this on my lids, I get the blackest smokey eye I could ever want.

ipsy + NYX Neutral Trio

pp2016inneypm

While this will be a mostly bright and colorful look, I also want some black. I chose this palette for the matte black shadow, but the two lighter neutrals are coming in handy for blending and whole-lid coverage.

Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow Quad in Queen of the Blues

pp2016skeqqotbm

It was really tough to find a blue in my collection that worked for what I wanted. It’s so hard to believe that, out of like the hundreds of single eyeshadows and dozens of palettes I have, I could not find a light blue that actually showed up on my skin. This was the most Serenity-like blue eyeshadow I had, and I decided just to use the whole palette. The mid-tone blue was the one I like the best, but I can’t pass up that glitterbomb in the lower right.

Stila Collectible Travel Palette in Road to Radiance Across the USA

pp2016srtratusaepm

Do you remember these? There was a whole collection of these cute little palettes, each based on a different destination. For a whopping ten bucks, you got four shadows and a cream blush/lip product. This is many years old, so I don’t think I’ll be using the cream product, but the shadows will do nicely for my look. I had the same problem choosing pink colors as I did blue; everything I picked out was either too shimmery or too pale.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyed Pencil in Zero

img_47422

My all-time favorite eyeliner pencil is included in this look, of course. What’s a dramatic makeup look without a black eyeliner?

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion

img_47472

For my liquid liner needs. Liquid liner doesn’t get better than this stuff. Of course, I haven’t tried the new Razor Sharp liners yet.

Eyetini Swizzle Stick in Blue Hawaiian (not pictured)

Another ipsy bag grab! I only realized I had this when I was digging through a drawer looking for something else, and I saw it was just the right blue to match my lips, I decided to give it a go. I don’t know if I’ll use it that often, but I’ll keep it around.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Air Guitar

img_47062

I’ve been buying the Heavy Metal liners for years now. I can’t get enough glitter, and this is my favorite way to add glitter to a dramatic eye. Again, I don’t know that I’ll be using this a whole lot, but if I do, I’ll likely be using it over the Blue Hawaiian liner, because it doesn’t bring enough color on its own. Really, I just like the option.

NYX Big and Loud Lash Primer (not pictured)

Holy cow, you guys. I picked this up on a whim because I was dreading having to buy another expensive Lancôme one. I will never buy that Lancôme one again. I’ve already got pretty long natural lashes, but this one seriously makes my lashes twice as long. I almost want to do a whole post about it, I’m so impressed with it.

Clarins Be Long Mascara in Intense Black

img_46742

I don’t normally buy high-end mascaras, but a pushy Nordstrom sales lady sent me home with this one. I have to say, it’s not terrible. She assured me that it was going to make my natural lashes even longer, but I never noticed a change. It makes my lashes feathery and long, but doesn’t add a lot of volume or plumpness, so a lash primer is a necessity. I also wore this mascara last winter, which I know is a big no-no, but it was expensive and there was still some in there.

Lips

img_47572

MAC Prep + Prime Lip Primer (not pictured)

Of course I use a lip primer. I’m not using liquid lipsticks this round like I totally should be, so I need all the help I can get keeping the creamy traditional lipstick on. This is actually my second tube of this.

Obsessive-Compulsive Cosmetics Cosmetic Colour Pencil in Anti-Feathered (not pictured)

This is my favorite clear liner, and I use it for every lipstick I don’t have a matched liner for. It’s already half-used and I’ll probably be done with it by the winter. It’s the best.

MAC Amplified Lipstick in Saint Germain

pp2016malsgm

Here comes the good stuff. This pink lipstick is creamy, bright, and so pink it kind of hurts to look at. It’s just what I needed.

NYX Macaron Lippie in Blue Velvet

pp2016nmlbvm

The first time I saw these, I knew I had to have them, and I ordered all of them. Of course, until now, I’ve not worn any of them. This was the first blue lipstick I’d seen since the ’90s, and it’s both nostalgic and modern to me. I’m really excited and a bit nervous about wearing this out, but at the end of the day, it’s just a color just like pink is.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Intense Artist in 50

pp2016muferai50m

Here comes the black! I gotta be honest, I never dreamed that black lipstick would be sold somewhere other than costume shops around Halloween. Even more, it’s a chic fashion statement. The middle school goth in me isn’t sure if she should be horrified or pleased.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Pink Plum

pp2016lcrlppm

I added a fourth lipstick to this look in case, for some reason, ridiculous lipstick is out of the question. I got this out of a Walgreen’s sale bin, and it’s kind of nice. It’s a sheer pink, so it adds color without being too much. Again, I like having the option.

MAC Mineralize Glass Lip Gloss in Beautiful Moves

pp2016mmgbmm

I will admit I bought this because I didn’t know when I’d see a blue-green lip gloss again. I love that I’ve found a use for it! As the challenge moves on, I’d like to be able to wear this over both blue and pink lipsticks, ensuring I get both Colors of the Year in one lip look.

MAC Dazzleglass Lip Gloss in Sugarrimmed

pp2016mdgsrm

The same for this gloss. I love the pink sparkles over the blue lipstick. It creates a lot of fun dimension.

Here are some quick and dirty hand swatches for all of the above products:

Lipsticks, left to right: Saint Germain, Pink Plush, Blue Velvet, #50

Lipsticks, left to right: Saint Germain, Pink Plush, Blue Velvet, #50

 

Glosses: Top, Sugarrimmed, Bottom: Beautiful Moves

Glosses: Top, Sugarrimmed, Bottom: Beautiful Moves

 

Blushes: Top, Korres Zea Mays blush, Bottom, MAC powder blush in Taupe

Blushes: Top, Korres Zea Mays blush, Bottom, MAC powder blush in Taupe

 

Eyeshadows, Left: Sonia Kashuk Queen of the Blues, Right: ipsy + NYX neutrals palette

Eyeshadows, Left: Sonia Kashuk Queen of the Blues, Right: ipsy + NYX neutrals palette

 

Heavy Metal in Air Guitar: alone on left, over Eyetini Blue Hawaiian on right

Heavy Metal in Air Guitar: alone on left, over Eyetini Blue Hawaiian on right

And, of course, what’s a makeup post like this without a preview of the whole look? I’m actually surprised how subtle this first round was; looking at the variety of products in this list and bright some of the colors are, I expected something pretty costumey, but it’s all really wearable together. Of course, I’m only dipping my toes in; I’m sure it’ll look a little more clownish when I get the blue lips out. I plan to rotate the products and colors in and out, but generally keep the same look.

img_51632

pp2016elm

img_51712

Here are the products I used for this particular face:
Face:
MAC Prep + Prime Skin Primer
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NW10
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express Brow Powder in Brunette
Korres Zea Mays blush in Pink
MAC powder blush in Taupe
Benefit High Beam illuminator
NYX Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray in Matte Finish
Eyes:
MAC Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean
ipsy + NYX neutrals trio palette (all shades)
Sonia Kashuk eyeshadow quad in Queen of the Blues (glitter shade, frosty blue shade)
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eyeliner in Zero
NYX Big and Loud lash primer
Clarins Be Long mascara in Intense Black
Lips:
MAC Prep + Prime lip primer
Obsessive-Compulsive Cosmetics Cosmetic Colour pencil in Anti-Feathered
MAC Amplified lipstick in Saint Germain
MAC Mineralizeglass lip gloss in Beautiful Moves

If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for reading! I plan to post updates with new looks and product progress every month, so you’ll have the chance to see how some of these less conventional products are used. I’m really excited about this look, and I’m so happy to be sharing it. What products are you digging out now that it’s cooler outside? I want to know!

I bought these products myself.

Manicure Tuesday: Red vs. Blue Multichrome

Welcome to Manicure Tuesday! I know, it’s weird for me too. I like today’s look today, though, even if I did a bit of a sloppy job. For this look, I used MAC’s Queen’s Honor (red) and Nails Inc.’s Baker Street (blue); my thumb and pinky have Queen’s Honor alone, my index nail has Baker Street alone, and my middle and ring nails have a gradient made with both colors. I then applied a coat of Orly’s Synchro (the multichrome) on each nail, then finished with Seche Vite and Essie’s Matte About You top coats.

IMG_42012

IMG_42082

I love Synchro, because I can confidently say I don’t own another polish like this. The red to blue multichrome is totally unique and I don’t have another polish that uses it. That said, I feel like I’ve never used it to its full potential. I wore it only once over red, and this time I decided to switch it up a bit and use red AND blue. I am stunned by how good it looks over the blue, I might even like it better than over red. Blue is the color I see the most of wearing Synchro, and it makes both colors look icy and interesting. Mattefied, it looks like an ethereal brocade. It’s really cool.

IMG_42102

IMG_42172

My gradients didn’t come out as well as I’d hoped. I had a hard time blending the two colors. When I do gradients, I don’t usually pick two colors of the same intensity, I pick one that’s lighter and one that’s much darker, and then it evens out somewhere in the middle. This gradient left a dark purple center that I didn’t really like, but it ended up being covered by Synchro, so it’s hard to tell it’s a gradient at all. It’s pretty subtle. I can’t tell if it’s the look I wanted or not. I still like it though.

IMG_42202

IMG_42272

Shifty!

Shifty!

Outdoors, Synchro really shines! The shift occurs pretty easily both indoors and out. These photos were taken in direct sunlight. Try not to notice my green pool.

IMG_41632

IMG_41702

IMG_41762

IMG_41802

IMG_41862

IMG_41922

Queen’s Honor was a limited edition polish from MAC and has sold out; other MAC polishes are available at your local MAC counter. Baker Street and other Nails Inc. polishes are sold at Sephora. Synchro has been discontinued by Orly; other Orly polishes are sold at Sally Beauty Supply.

I bought these products myself.

Manicure Monday: Dainty Pink Water-Marble

Happy Monday! This Manicure Monday’s secret word is dainty. We’re like baby princesses over here. My main polish in this mani is Model City‘s Fairy Godmother; I’m wearing it alone at three coats on my thumb and pinky, as well as in a watermarble with Elevation Polish‘s Hitsujiyama Park and under MAC’s Just Jewels. All nails are topped with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

mmdpwm

mmdpwm2

Perhaps the most unique thing about this polish, as well as the most obvious, is the strong pink pearl flash. This is what really sets it apart from the other pale pinks in my collection. There’s also a hint of holo; unfortunately it’s nasty cloudy outside, so I can’t demonstrate the pretty holo effect properly.

mmdpwm3

mmdpwm4

mmdpwm5

I decided on a water-marble pretty last-minute, and it was hard choosing the right color to contrast with the pale pink. I wanted one that was still pale so as to be dainty (ahhhh!) but dark enough to contrast with what I was already using. Hitsujiyama Park is just a shade or two darker, and has about the same amount of holo and lacks the pink flash, so I went with it. In the end, I wish I’d gone with something just a tad darker, but I really like the result I got. I bet there’s a sub-species of unicorn with stripes like these. A Zebracorn, if you will.

mmdpwm6

mmdpwm7

Finally, I used some glitter. MAC’s Just Jewels is a sheer but powerful shimmery topper with some multi-colored metallic glitters mixed in. It’s a little too strong for the watermarble, but I think it pairs really nicely with Fairy Godmother. The heavy pink shimmer is just what Fairy Godmother needs.

Fairy Godmother is discontinued; you can get other Model City polishes from their shop. Hitsujiyama Park and other Elevation Polishes can be purchased from their shop. Just Jewels is discontinued; other MAC polishes can be found wherever MAC products are sold. My bow charm is from Claire’s.

I bought two of these polishes. One polish was sent for review; my opinions are not influenced in any way.

Swatch Sunday: MAC’s Neptune

Happy Sunday! I’m excited to show you today’s polish; it’s a souvenir from one of the coolest vacations I’ve ever taken. This is MAC’s Neptune, and it was purchased from the Macy’s flagship store in New York City. I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

ssmn

ssmn2

ssmn3

Neptune is a metallic burnished gold polish. Application was easy; coverage was buildable, and it took me all of three coats to achieve this level of opacity. The consistency was thin but smooth and cooperative. It dries quickly and to a semi-glossy finish. There’s a slight duochrome effect to this polish; it leans slightly green when in certain lighting conditions. I used top coat for shine and to accentuate the shimmery finish.

ssmn4

ssmn6

ssmn5

I mentioned before that this polish is a souvenir, and it is. Last year, I had the opportunity to tag along on a road trip from Jacksonville, FL to Niagara Falls. We passed through New York City, and being sentimental and a shopaholic, I stopped in every flagship store and bought at least one thing, just so I could say “Yeah, I got this from the Herald Square Macy’s”. I almost wonder if that wasn’t the whole reason I wanted to go to New York.

ssmn7

ssmn8

I really like this polish. Apart from its being a vacation buy, it was one of my first MAC polishes, and probably also one of my first makeup-brand polishes. I tend not to buy those since they’re so easily dupeable, but this had been a special occasion, and sometimes it feels good to overpay for something. It feels like a luxury.

Neptune was part of MAC’s long-gone Aquatic Allure collection and is discontinued. Other MAC polishes are sold at counters and stores nationwide.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Sunday: Lynnderella’s Chef Kitty

Did I mention how happy I am to be swatching again? I have missed it so much. I know I’m out of practice, so please bear with me while I get back into the swing of it. This Sunday, I’m wearing my first Lynnderella polish, Chef Kitty; I’m wearing one coat over Mac’s Queen’s Honor (red), Essie’s Roarrrrrange (orange), OPI’s I Just Can’t Cope-acabana (yellow), Revlon’s Posh (green), and Nails Inc.’s Baker Street (blue) with one coat of Seche Vite.

sslck

sslck2

sslck3

Chef Kitty is a shimmery glitter topper with mostly white glitters in various shapes and sizes, as well as accent glitters in various colors and finishes. The maker describes it as an “’everything but the kitchen sink’ approach to cuisine”, and I have to agree with that; the variety of glitters in this polish is staggering. Considering the amount of glitter in this bottle, it spread very well over the nail; I had no trouble getting even coverage at all. It dried pretty well, all things considered. I used to top coat to smooth everything down and really bring out the shimmer in the lacquer base.

sslck4

sslck5

I know Lynnderella is old news for most people, but I had to see what the fuss was about and, last March, purchased Chef Kitty. I loved the mental image; I pictured my own fat fluff wearing a chef’s hat and knocking every herb and spice I own into a bowl. I was amazed by this polish and its quality, so impressed that I bought 24 more since then. They’re just so gorgeous! Lynnderella’s been in the indie polish game a long time, but everything they make is still creative and gorgeous.

sslck6

sslck7

Chef Kitty is available from Lynnderella’s Storenvy; other Lynns can be purchased via eBay auction.

I bought this polish myself.