What is the price for Christmas?

Source: WomensPersonalFinance.net

A Very Late November Favorites!

 

 Hey guys, I know I've been lacking in the post department this month but the Holiday season is in full swing and I'm mobbed with work! I'm trying my best to update as much as I can but by the time I get home pretty much the only thing I want to do is sleep for a million hours.

But anyway, I'm showing you my November favorites! I've been trying to pick up products I haven't used in a while this month just to switch up my routine because we all know we can get stuck in a rut using the same makeup over and over again.

NOTD: Carbonite

Revlon Nail Enamel- Carbonite

Seche Vite- Dry Fast Top Coat
 

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Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up 12/3/12

Question of the Week:

What beauty products are in your purse right now?

Emily's answer: for the most part I don't really like to collect a lot of makeup in my purse because then I forget about it when I'm doing mine in the morning! But I do like to keep my lip of the day in there, so right now it's Revlon's Color Burst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle and Revlon's Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Nude Lustre . Oh, and of course one of my salves ;)

This Week's Links:

Affairs Magazine- is still in love with Morocco!

Beauty & Baggage- rounds up her most loved products of November

Fashionable Heart- had a blast at the Givenchy Beauty Gala!

Massachusetts Mask- reviews Bath & Body Works newest fragrance and gives you a chance to win it!

Norwegian Elephant- is taking the week off to spend time with her family!

What beauty products are in your purse right now?

Bath & Body Works Sparkling Blackberry Woods Review + Giveaway *CLOSED*

Bath & Body Works is coming out with a new limited edition (I believe) fragrance called Sparkling Blackberry Woods! There was a special preview day on November 24th where you could purchase the lotion for only $5.00, so of course I grabbed it.

I'm not the best at describing scents and of course everything is going to smell different to everyone and on everyone, but I'm going to try and tell you guys my first impressions of Sparkling Blackberry Woods and how it wears on me!

Black Friday Haul!

So as you guys know, I work in retail so Black Friday was absolutely crazy! The mall where I work had some stores actually opening on Thanksgiving. I was scheduled for 4:30 in the morning, which was terrible because I could not manage to fall asleep so I was basically dealing with cranky customers during an all nighter!

My MAC Collection: Paint Pots

Hey guys, I know I've been on a little hiatus (I work in retail and Black Friday was SO not fun, took a lot out of me) but I'm getting back on track and continuing My MAC Collection series with my Paint Pots!

Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up 11/19/12

Question of the Week:

What's your least expensive beauty item, and is it any good?

Emily's answer: I have a ton of products that are inexpensive in my collection, probably the cheapest ones I own are Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios! They're $2.99 but I always buy them on sale so they are even cheaper, if you can believe that! I really love how soft the shadows are, they certainly don't lack in pigmentation, and come in every color you could ever need. I would certainly pay a lot more for the quality of those shadows!

This Week's Links:

Affairs Magazine- Michelle is mixing more Lush cocktails this week!

Beauty & Baggage- might have been swayed by St Tropez fake tan.

Fashionable Heart- shares what is in her purse!

Massachusetts Mask- talks about the hit or miss quality of MAC Blushes and shows her collection!

Norwegian Elephan- finds a pretty nice way to tame her fluffy 'do!

What's your least expensive beauty item, and is it any good?

Who Knew Owls Could Smell So Good?

You guys should probably know, I'm obsessed with owls! I love any kind of home decor with them on it, so when I saw this Scentportable at Bath & Body Works during my last trip it had to be mine.

If you don't already know what Scentportables are, they're little holders for Fragrance Refills that you buy to put in them. I love to use these things in my closet, car, and in my laundry basket because although they don't give off a ton of scent, it's just enough to keep everything from being stinky!

Radiate your fave fragrances into all the spaces of your life, without a plug, battery or flame. The built-in clip base allows SCENTPORTABLE to hang, sit or rest on virtually any surface.

• Perfect for your car, closet, drawers, luggage, gym bag, pet area or laundry basket
• Use it to fill your home with your fave fragrance
• Fragrance refill sold separately

This Owl Scentportable was only $4.00 and he flaps his little wings when you move his tail side to side!

I picked the Spiced Cider Fragrance Refill and it is honestly beyond delicious, I had to move it off my desk because I was constantly smelling it! It's  perfect mix of crisp apples and nutmeg, nothing better for this time of year. It's been sitting in my closet now for about a month and still going strong, definitely worth the $7.00 total I spent!

I can't find this particular one on the website but when I ran into my Bath & Body Works a few days ago they still had a whole shelf filled with Owls so if you want one head down to your store quickly because I have a feeling these are going fast.

There's also a lot of other holiday Scentportables you can choose from right now, from Polar Bears to Penguins with earmuffs!

Have you ever tried one of these before?

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My MAC Collection: Blushes

Hey guys, I want to start doing these little "My Collection" posts as sort of a way I can do a makeup collection without actually doing it because that would be one massive post!

I thought I'd start off with my MAC blushes since

 1. MAC is a popular brand that people are curious about the quality of and 

2. it's no secret that I will hoard anything and everything related to blush!

Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up 11/12/12

Question of the Week:

What's top on your beauty wishlist for the Holidays?

Emily's answer: Hands down the In The Glow Set from Sephora, I pretty much died when I saw it! You guys probably already know I'm obsessed with blush so this set is perfection to me. I would especially love to try out Laura Mercier, NARS, and Lorac for the first time. At only $45 dollars, I let my mom know if she was ever going to get me a gift this would be it! Though I wouldn't complain if anything YSL ended up under the tree either ;)

This Week's Links:

 Affairs Magazine- Michelle welcomed November with some great new products!

Beauty & Baggage- gets into the holiday spirit a little early with her Christmas Gift Guide!

Fashionable Heart- is excited about Toronto's IMATS!

Massachusetts Mask- is admitting her addiction to salves!

Norwegian Elephant- gives a happy dance for finding the "perfect" dupe!

What's top on your beauty wishlist for the Holidays?

NOTD: San Francisco

Sinful Colors- San Francisco

Seche Vite- Dry Fast Top Coat
 

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Salve Obsession?

 I was rummaging through the lip section of my makeup storage the other day and noticed a little trend that I just apparently cannot get enough of: lip tins and salves!

Black Radiance Moisturizing Lip Stain in Rich Cranberry: Review, Photos, & Swatches

The longevity of a lipstick with the brilliant shine of a gloss. This richly pigmented color applied
from a purse friendly slant tip applicator tube provides a lip look that lasts the whole day through.

 Ingredients

Polybutene, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Tridecyl Trimelitate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Microcrystalline Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate 2, Ozokerite, Trihydroxystearin, C10 30 Cholesterol/Lanesterol Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Petrolatum, BHT, Propylparaben, Sodium Saccharin, Laminaria Ochroleuca (Algae) Extract, Crithmum Maritimum, Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 15850), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

 Where to Buy: Drugstore.com, $2.99

The Black Radiance Moisturizing Lip Stain in Rich Cranberry ($2.99 for 0.33 fl. oz.) is the definition of an impulse buy that I grabbed from Drugstore.com while they were having their 40% beauty sale which I did a little haul post on! I'm always on the hunt for more stains since they're work friendly since I don't have to be concerned about re-apply them again and again, so a girl can never have too many in my book. The Black Radiance Moisturizing Lip Stains are supposed to last as long as your traditional lipstick with the same pigmentation but still stay glossy lasting the entire day. Well I put that to the test!

NOTD: All Fired Up

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure- All Fired Up

Seche Vite- Dry Fast Top Coat
 

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Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up 11/5/12

Question of the Week:

What do your friends and family think of your blog?

Emily's answer: For a long time I kept my blog hidden from my friends just because I started it when I was 16 and I was worried people from my school would be cruel so Massachusetts Mask was kind of like my secret life! I still haven't told any of my friends now that I've graduated probably because it's just never come up in a conversation, but everyone at my work knows about it (actually helped me get the job)! My mom was with my blog from the start, I told her the day I started making posts and she's always been encouraging.

This Week's Links:

Affairs Magazine- Michelle is going Cupcake crazy with nails inc!

Beauty & Baggage- talks about her favourite October products and her Halloween costume.

Fashionable Heart- shares some wardrobe organizing tips!

Massachusetts Mask- is putting price vs. quality to the test with NYC's Sunny Bronzer!

Norwegian Elephant- taking a trip down the memory lane with a brand new phone case!

What do your friends and family think of your blog (if you have one)?!

Drugstore.com Haul!

If you guys remember a week or two ago Drugstore.com was having a sale where their beauty department was 40% off, and you best believe I took advantage of that!

Pretty & Practical Storage: Lipsticks

Hey guys, sorry it took so long for me to do the 2nd installment of my Pretty & Practical Storage, I promise that they will be coming more frequently now.

So my last Pretty & Practical post was all about rings, and today's is going to be about lipstick!

October Favorites

So in October I've really been toning down my makeup, going down the more natural route. I've been sticking to matte or at least satin shadows on my eyes, light pink cheeks, and browny-pink lips. I was kinda digging it while this little natural kick lasted, but now I'm so incredibly ready to bust out the glittery eyes and red lips for the holidays!

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny: Review, Photos, & Swatches

Let a little sunshine into your life for cheap, with NYC New York Color Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder. It glides on easily for a sheer bronze glow that looks like you just stepped off the beach. It is easy to use everywhere and is perfect for quick touch-ups throughout the day. 

Benefits

Sun-kissed yet natural look year round without the damaging effects of the sun

Glides easily for sheer effect

Adds a tanned look in seconds

Can be worn alone or over makeup

Dermatologist tested 

Key Ingredients

A blend of micronized pigments and silica for smooth application

Kaolin to minimize pores and lines

Natural mineral powders

 

Where to Buy: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, Target, $2.99

The NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny ($2.99 for 0.33 oz.) is a matte warm brown shade that works particularly well for contouring. In the pan Sunny looks like it has a tad bit of orange to it, but comes across as a light choclaty brown on the skin. This is a product that I've raves about for years now but never really gave it any thought because NYC hasn't really been known for their quality, but I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I like this bronzer (especially for the winter)!

NOTD: Halloween Edition!

 Happy Halloween!

 Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color- Black Out

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color- Orange Impulse

Wet n Wild Wild Shine Nail Color- Kaleidoscope

Seche Vite- Dry Fast Top Coat
 

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October Beauty Buds

The Beauty of Louise- this fabulous blog is written by Louise, a gorgeous girl from the UK. I'm a frequent visitor of her site because not only is her layout so appealing to the eye (you really can't go wrong with pastels!) but she does detailed reviews of products and funky NOTD's that always give me inspiration for my next manicure. Be sure to stop by and say hello, Louise is so sweet you'll feel like you're talking to a friend!

Just so you guys know I've recently started offering advertising on Massachusetts Mask which you can find all the information on under the Sponsors page up top. 

Every month I'm going to be doing this post where you can meet my advertisers called "Beauty Buds"! So if you'd like to be a part of that be sure to check that page out because there's an option for everybody :)

Hope you're all staying safe with this crazy weather, we got lucky in Massachusetts considering how back New Jersey and New York have been hit. Thinking of you all!

5 Nail Polishes for Fall

Probably the most exciting part of fall for me is getting to break out all of my dark and neutral shades of nail polish! These colors go neglected by me all year until late September and then I just can't get enough of them. This year I have a select few that just scream fall to me and I keep going back to them!

Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up 10/29/12

Question of the Week:

Are you being festive this Halloween in your beauty or fashion choices?

Emily's answer: You know I'm not really one who does much in terms of beauty and fashion for Halloween, it's never really worked out for me! Don't get me wrong, I love this holiday but usually I spend it at home with some candy I bought at the store and scary movie marathons. That being said it's not like anyone really sees me on Halloween so there's not much point in putting a costume together. This year though I think I'm going to paint my nails in a festive way (don't worry, I'll do a special Halloween NOTD) and maybe wear some colorful eyeshadow, something a little different for me but still in my comfort zone!

This Week's Links:

Affairs Magazine- Michelle is feeling festive with her LUSH Bath!

Beauty & Baggage- falls in love with five eyeliners she scooped up for a bargain!

Fashionable Heart- got one of her dream bags this week!

Massachusetts Mask- has never found a blush she didn't like, but this new one from e.l.f. may have to be the first!

Norwegian Elephant- has finally found the perfect red lipstick!

Are you being festive this Halloween in your beauty or fashion choices?

Target Beauty Bag Fall 2012 Contents

Hi guys, hope you're all staying safe with Hurricane Sandy raging through the East Coast right now (we're supposed to get hit tomorrow morning)!

Just in case the power goes out I wanted to get this post up since I've been hearing a lot of people have gotten their Fall 2012 Target Beauty Bag in the mail. It was offered at the beginning of October as Target's last beauty bag ever, sorry if you missed out!

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Tickled Pink: Review, Photos, & Swatches

The soft sheer texture blends into the skin for a silky finish. Designed to be worn alone or layered for more depth. Highlight your complexion with a subtle healthy glow!

Apply to the apples of the cheeks or any other area you wish to highlight.

Where to Buy: eyeslipsface.com, $3.00

The e.l.f. Studio Blush in Tickled Pink ($3.00 for .168 oz.) is a neutral medium pink blush that looks like it has a hint of shimmer in the pan but turns up matte on the skin. I've had this particular color in my collection for a while and its surprising how much I dislike it considering how well the other e.l.f. Studio Blushes perform!

A Mascara Better Than CoverGirl Lash Blast?!

When I first heard CoverGirl was coming out with a new version of their amazing LashBlast mascara called LashBlast Clump Crusher from Nouveau Cheap, I was a little apprehensive.

Honestly most brands like to take their best selling product and milk it by creating products off of it which aren't up to par with the original! That's why I wasn't really thinking this new mascara would be anything ground breaking, but after hearing Josh Collier rave about it on Twitter, I rushed to watch his new video with first impressions.

Seeing him apply it in the video, I'M AMAZED! The original LashBlast has been the closest to holy grail I've found as I mentioned in a big mascara review post a while back, but it still has its issues which is why I haven't officially handed out the HG title.

But the amazing volume and length Josh had in is video where he applies it on camera is like love at first sight for me! I'm not usually one who goes crazy for mascaras because I've got a million open at the moment (more like 6...) that I need to make my way through, but I will throw them all out in an instant if the CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara looks that amazing on me!

So what do you guys think, something you want to try?

Dry Skin Woes

For as long as I can remember I had such dry skin until up about my Sophomore year of high school, then things started to change over to the oily side. It seemed to happen almost over night, it was like all of the sudden I woke up one day and was having trouble keeping my makeup from sliding off my face!

So when I figured out my skin was the culprit and I needed to totally change how I was caring for it, I was at a loss because I only knew to look for the most moisturizing products.

 Over the last two years I've completely changed my skin care around to cater to the oily-ness, you won't find any products in my bathroom cabinet that don't claim to help keep your skin matte throughout the day!

 Of course along the way I've gotten rid of my tinted moisturizers and have started picking up mattifying primers, oil control powders, etc.

But lately I think my skin has been switching back to its old dry ways (it's bipolar, I swear)! I've been having a ton of dry patches on my forehead, around my mouth, nose, eyes, pretty much everywhere. I haven't changed up my makeup routine, all my products have been the same (same with my skin care) so it leaves me thinking its just my skin switching things up again. The weather here is pretty mellow, nothing too cold to make me think that's the issue either.

So in a desperate attempt to help stop the flake-y patches I've been trying to research some new moisturizers. Its been a while since I needed something targeted towards dry skin so I grabbed a mini Pond's Dry Skin Cream so if it makes me break out or doesn't give me enough moisture I didn't buy a huge tub that will sit in my bathroom unused!

 

I've only used it for a few nights but it doesn't seem to be doing my skin any good. I'm starting to get a few big breakouts and the dry patches are still coming through when I put my foundation on.

Do you guys have any recommendations for moisturizers that won't irritate my acne prone skin?

NOTD: Golden-I

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color- Golden-I

Seche Vite- Dry Fast Top Coat
 

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Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up 10/22/12

Question of the Week:
 

What is one product that you had high hopes for but left you disappointed?

Emily's answer: I would have to go with MAC lipsticks, granted I've only ever tried the cremesheen finish but it was still so awful I don't plan on ever getting another lipstick from MAC! I got Creme d'Nude last year when I was obsessing over nude lips and just discovered MAC. It was just such a cake-y formula on my lips, sunk into every crevice and just look horrid (it wasn't the color, that was the only part that actually looked good)! It was so surprising to me because everyone and their mother raves about MAC lipsticks, the cremesheen finish in particular. Unless there was a color that I just absolutely cannot dupe in another brand, I will be staying far far away from the lipstick stand at MAC!

This Week's Links:

Beauty & Baggage- is pleasantly surprised by a budget beauty palette from Next.

Fashionable Heart- has already started her Christmas list!

Massachusetts Mask- reviews what should be called an industrial strength concealer from MAC!

Norwegian Elephant- has finally found the HG foundation she's been looking for!

What is one product that you had high hopes for but left you disappointed?

Massachusetts Mask's 2 Year Anniversary!

Hi guys, hope you all had a lovely weekend and just as nice weather as Massachusetts (it was in the 80's here)!

I just wanted to point out on October 17th I have been officially blogging for 2 years :)! Its so weird to say that because I literally feel like I just started yesterday. I can still remember my first post on the Vitamin Schtick lip balms, it always makes me chuckle to go back and read it/see that all I used were stock photos.

I never would have thought I would've stuck with beauty blogging for this long, let alone come as far as I have! Its still so thrilling to me to see a new comment or see how many page views I've gotten on any given day. Its amazing to me to think back on all the opportunities Massachusetts Mask has given me, and I cannot wait to see what's in store for the future!

I'm always thankful to everyone who takes the time to read my little section of the internet :)

The Smells of Fall: Bath & Body Works Haul

 Surprise surprise, another haul :). I feel like I have an overload of hauls this month just because fall is my favorite time of year and I feel the need to stock up on new makeup, new clothes, and most importantly, new scents!

You all know I'm a Bath & Body Works fiend, anything new they ever come out with I have to run out and grab. Recently they've had all the new fall scents: Honey Autumn Apple, Brown Sugar & Fig, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, and Dreamy Vanilla Woods.

When I heard that there was going to be a new apple fragrance I was jumping for joy, I'm crazy for anything apple and always have been! But of course I got distracted when I went in to grab it and ended up getting some other goodies as well.

DUPE: Urban Decay Naked Palette Eyeshadow in Sin

 The Urban Decay Naked Palette is one of my most coveted items, I use it every day without fault! Lately I've been cycling through my other eyeshadows to find a lot of them are similar to shades in the Naked Palette.

I'm going to start doing a lot more "DUPE" posts because nothing irritates me more than coming home with a new item only to find I pretty much have the exact same shade from another brand!

I used to think "dupe" meant a cheaper alternative to a higher priced item, but I don't know why it only just occurred to me that a dupe is really any product that looks or acts similar to another product no matter the price point.

So just recently I compared a shade in my collection to the eyeshadow Sin from the Naked Palette that are very similar in every way except cost!

A Brief History of Halloween

For many people nowadays, Halloween is a celebration of all things scary –

an excuse to let our hair down as autumn moves towards winter. But behind

the parties, pumpkins and Halloween costumes, there’s a rich historical

tradition.

The name ‘Halloween’ is first recorded in the 16th century and is taken from

the original name ‘All Hallows’ Eve’ for the night of October 31st – the day

before the Christian feast of All Hallows. All Hallows’ Eve was a time to

honour the saints and pray for the recently deceased. Traditions included

baking bread or cakes, and those celebrating would wear masks or costumes

to disguise themselves from the souls of the departed who were still walking

the earth.
 

However, there are almost certainly pre-Christian origins for this festival. For

the early Celts, New Year’s Day was 1 November and the night before was

called Samhain. Samhain was the festival of the end of summer, and the time

when the physical and supernatural worlds were thought to be close together.

The Celts believed that this meant that magical things could happen, so

fires were built to help ward off the spirits and crops and animals would be

sacrificed to the gods. It was believed that spirits returned to the earth and

would tell the druids about what to expect in the coming year.
 

Historians believe that after the Roman invasion of the British Isles, the

Romans brought together Samhain with a number of their own festivals which

honoured the season or the dead, such as Parentalia, Pomona and Feralia.

Eventually, in the 7th century, the Roman Pope Boniface IV decreed that it

would become a day for celebrating Christian martyrs.

There are many practices that are now commonly associated with the 31

October, and throughout the world millions of people of different religions

mark the holiday with parties, fancy dress, trick or treating, pumpkin carving,

bonfires and spooky games. But while it might seem all fun and games, this is

a celebration with a real story behind it – and you can find out more about the

history of the holiday here.

This post is brought to you by Wool Worths

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer: Review & Photos

A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-acnegenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E), it also contains silica to help absorb the skin's oils. Concealer has broad spectrum SPF 35 protection and is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a medium to firm fiber brush (try the 242 Shader Brush), a latex sponge, or the fingertips.

New packaging is being phased in for this product. Your shipped product might look slightly different than the one shown on this site.

 7 g / 0.24 US oz US$18.00

Where to Buy: maccosmetics.com, $18.00 

The MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer ($18.00 for 0.24 oz.) is one of those items in my collection that I've had a love/hate relationship with since I got it about a year and a half ago! It was recommended to me by the makeup artist at MAC when I was looking for something that would really help get rid of the hyperpigmentation I have on my face left over from acne.

I have the shade NW20 which has pink undertones which in turn help cancel out the blue/purple of the hyperpigmentation. Its really important that you get the right undertone in your concealer otherwise it won't do what you want it to! It MAC terms, NW basically means "not warm", warm being yellow toned. So if you're getting something marked NW you're getting something with a pink undertone (the confusing idea that MAC has is they label colors by what color you're not) which is generally good for covering up dark colors like blue or purple. NC is "not cool", so you're getting something with a yellow undertone because pink is cool toned, generally used to help cover up any redness.

It takes a while to get used to that way of thinking, but if you just go to a counter or store the makeup artist will give you the right color if you tell them what you want the concealer to cover!

But now onto the MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer Review!