Spring Haul!

I've been taking it pretty easy lately with buying new makeup, but with the weather finally warming up and stepping into Spring I thought I'd treat myself to a couple new goodies (and some essentials)!

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!

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!

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadows in Mossy Green: Review, Photos, & Swatches

Why You'll Love It

Dare to wear 24HR shadow.
• Ink technology creates 24HR wear shadow for our most intense, long-lasting color saturation 
• Cream formula glides on without creasing and keeps color vibrant
• Ophthalmologist-tested.  Safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
For Best Results

High impact look:
Illuminate. With fingertips, sweep all over eye from inner corner and work outwards.  For added drama, darken as desired.       

Where to Buy: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid (You may have to search around to find them now!), $5.00-$8.00

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadows in Mossy Green ($5.00-$8.00 for .14oz) is an olive green cream eyeshadow with gold shimmer that is part of Maybelline's limited edition Fall 2012 Fashion Week collection. There are 9 permanent shades: Fierce And Tangy, Audacious Asphalt, Painted Purple, Bad To The Bronze, Pomegranate Punk, Tough As Taupe, Tenacious Teal, Bold Gold, and Edgy Emerald.  You guys know I have been obsessed with these ever since I managed to find them in my haul (I have a cream shadow obsession in the first place) and this was my first experience with Color Tattoos so I'm excited to share my thoughts on how they perform!

Maybelline Limited Edition Fashion Week Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadow Haul & Swatches

 I've been on an epic hunt to try and find most of the new Limited Edition Maybelline Color Tattoos that apparently everyone else wants! I've been around to every drugstore in my area and it wasn't until a random stop at Walgreens last night that I found the Fashion Week ones. There's also a separate collection that Maybelline released 4 new colors for fall, which I've only seen at Target!

Haulin' It!

 

I recently finished up a few makeup items (an empties post coming soon!) so I treated myself to a little online Sephora order after lusting over some items, and got around to using a gift card Apothica they so kindly sent me!

MAC Paint Pot Haul!

So we all know MAC has previously been lacking in the "wow department" with their collections over the past year, but Posh Paradise (and even the new Glitter & Ice) are working towards redemption!

Paint Pots are my thing; I love them!

(Well, I pretty much love anything that I can swipe on my eye with my finger and go)

I went to a MAC counter at my local Macy's where I'm pretty well known by the makeup artists (who are total sweethearts, love them!) since I'm always in there swatching away!

I went in thinking I was going to grab Nubile, Genuine Treasure, and Treasure Hunt.

But my plans changed quite a bit...

When I swatched Nubile I just couldn't help but think it was going to just be too pink on my lids, and the slight shimmer you see in the pot doesn't translate.

I still kind of want it being a neutral girl and all ;)

I REALLY wanted Genuine Treasure since I previously swatched it, but I was told some inconsiderate twerp actually stole the tester for that one and it was all sold out/they weren't getting anymore. Such a bummer, Genuine Treasure is continuously sold out online and since it is Limited Edition I just don't know if I'm ever going to get a chance to buy it :(

While bumming around after they told me Genuine Treasure was sold out, I went and looked through the permanent paint pots. I already own Indianwood which is a bit too bronze-y for everyday use, so I was looking for a brown shade that was more neutral. I wouldn't normally have gravitated towards Groundwork Paint Pot just because it looks like nothing special at first glance, but when I swatched it, it turned out to be the most gorgeous taupe color with a little bit of shimmer!

I already knew I was going to love Hidden Treasure, yellow golds are right up my alley since I think they look great with my brown hair/eyes! I'm a little on the fence with this Paint Pot though, it applies really streaky, but I think I just need to play around with it a bit more.

And the last Paint Pot I grabbed was totally out of my comfort zone. Again, someone stole the tester for the Idyllic Paint Pot, but the makeup artist said that I would really love it and pulled out the last remaining one to swatch. Surprisingly, I really have fallen in love with this burgundy copper shade!

MAC Paint Pot in "Indianwood"

A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners.

Indianwood

Metallic antique bronze (Frost) 

US$17.50

Pros: The glass jar packaging is very sleek and sturdy, it looks nice but also does a good job of protecting the product if you tend to be a little clumsy with your makeup (we all have our moments...)! I really wanted this particular paint pot because I thought it would make an easy all-over-the-lid color, but I got nervous when I saw how dark Indianwood actually is/thought it wouldn't go very well with my brown eyes. Boy was I completely wrong! Its definitely  more prominent on your lid than a typical champagne color, but still light enough to wear during the day and looks great on any eye color. The MAC website describes Indianwood as a "Metallic antique bronze (Frost)" and I think that's the perfect description so you know exactly what you're getting (MAC descriptions can sometimes be a little iffy and you end up with something completely different than what you thought). Don't let the frost finish scare you, I know when I think of a frost I imagine something gritty with low pigmentation, but that is so the opposite of Indianwood! I've tried using a couple different types of brushes with this Paint Pot, like a Sigma E55, E60, and E25 but I find that nothing quite gives you the same amount of color and coverage as your fingers. This is great if you don't have any/many brushes to chose from, and saves you the pain of washing it later!

Cons: Although it looks nice and keeps the product safe from general wear and tear, the packaging has some major downfalls. When the paint pot is stored right side up, there's no way to tell what color is it is (annoying if you have more than one) because of the black top and the sticker with the name of the paint pot is on the bottom of the jar. So if you have a couple of these paint pots, storing them upside-down is an easier way to find which one you're looking for, but know that the black tops will get scratched up over time. Yet another issue with the packaging department is the screw-off tops. Often when I'm in a hurry I forget to screw the top on all the way which results in my paint pot drying out a bit. This will happen naturally over time of course, but having packaging that closes a little tighter would pro-long the paint pot's life! I've only had Indianwood since my birthday in July and I can already notice it pulling away from the edges of the jar. Again, I don't know if that's because of my lack of screwing the top on all the way or its just happening naturally, but I would've thought it would have lasted longer before doing that. When you're working with Indianwood, I find that it dries pretty fast once you place it on the lid, so if you plan on doing any blending, you need to do it quickly! MAC paint pots are notorious for being good eyeshadow primers, some people swear by them, saying they never crease. I've found that using Indianwood alone on my eyes lasts me about 3 hours before it creases, and even with my Too Faced Shadow Insurance, it only lasts about 4-5 hours. But keep in mind that I have really oily skin, its still hot hot hot in Massachusetts, and I don't put a powder shadow on top because I usually use Indianwood when I'm in a time crunch, so it could have totally different staying power on your lids!

Overall: I can completely look past some of the flaws the MAC Paint Pot in Indianwood has because it it just such a gorgeous and unique color! Normally I would lean towards shades like the Bare Study Paint Pot but Indianwood is sunning on the eyes when I want something bolder, but it is still so neutral that I don't feel out of my comfort zone. I love that when I want to use this Paint Pot I don't need to fuss with brushes, blending, and all that jazz; I can just swipe it on with my finger and go. Indianwood was given to me by the sweetest brother in the whole word (with a little prompting from me of course ;] ) but I think it has sparked a little addiction to MAC Paint Pots!

September Favorites!

 Stila Smudge Pot in "Kitten"

For some reason I've been REALLY into cream shadows this month (it must be the MAC Posh Paradise collection with the 8 new Paint Pots, I need to get me some of those)! "Kitten" is a super neutral champagne color that is quite shimmery so it completely brightens up the eye area. I've been sweeping this across my lid pretty much every day  in September (or some days using it as a base for the Wet n Wild trio colors since their lasting power isn't strong) with the brown shade in the Wet n Wild "Walking On Eggshells" Trio in the crease. I never get any creasing with this Stila Smudge Pot when I put my Too Faced Shadow Insurance underneath, so its a complete winner in my books!

e.l.f. Studio Blush in "Peachy Keen"

I've been in quite the blush-rut this month, nothing has been striking me fancy lately (which is such a shocker since my blush collection is massive...) so I've been sticking to some lighter, shimmery colors. "Peachy Keen" barely shows up on my skin, but it does give the most gorgeous glow that looks like almost nothing is there! The staying power is not so great, but I will definitely compromise on that for the lovely sheen I get from this color!

Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in "180 Sand Beige"

This is the first liquid foundation I've tried in a long, long time since I'm usually too afraid I'll get oily throughout the day, but this is a new holy grail item! I'm absolutely in love with how much coverage you can get from this Revlon ColorStay foundation, it covers everything you can imagine but can also be sheered out for those days you don't need full-coverage. As long as I set this with a powder I'm good to go for about 2 hours without the need to blot (that is massively long for me)! This will surely be a favorite for months to come.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in "Walking on Eggshells"

My absolute favorite shade from this trio is the brown, its a dream to blend and is so incredibly pigmented! I've been throwing it in my crease this entire month, while also sometimes using the shimmery white and pink-champagne color on occasions when I want to mix it up. As long as I use a base and primer with these shadows I'm good to go all day. For only $2.99 you really can't go wrong!

TOCCA Eau de Parfum "Stella"

I got this as a sample with an order I made online and it has completely replaced all my Bath & Body Works goodies! Its definitely more of a "mature" smell, nothing fruity, more floral-y and musk-y. I would love to purchase the full-size of this perfume, but everywhere I look its super expensive. If you know of anywhere I can get it for a decent price, let me know!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm Tin

Just like my recent cream eyeshadow kick, I've been loving lip tins! The Burt's Bees one is great because it has peppermint oil in it which gives your lips that tingly effect that I love! And of course, just like every other Burt's Bees lip product, its incredibly moisturizing which is what I need now that the weather is starting to get colder!

What's In My Travel Makeup Bag!

Face:

Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in "180 Sand Beige"

CARGO OneBase Concealer + Foundation In One

MAC Studio Fix Powder in "N5" 

MAC Blot Powder Pressed in "Medium"

Cheeks:

e.l.f. Studio Blush in "Peachy Keen"

e.l.f. Studio Blush in"Candid Coral"

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush in "Blushing Peach"

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Blush in "Rosy Glow"

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Concealer Pink Highlighter 

Eyes:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

 MAC Paint Pot in "Indianwood"

 Stila Smudge Pot in "Kitten"

 COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Trio in "Cafe Au Lait"

 Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in "Walking On Eggshells"

Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eye Liner Pencil in "Black Magic"

Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara in "Soft Black"

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express in "Blackest Black"

Hi lovelies!

I just got back from spending some time visiting my dad, so I thought I'd share the makeup bag I brought with me! I kept it pretty minimal since I wasn't gone for long, and as you can see I completely skipped on all lip products (other than lip balm of course)!

So let me know what you guys keep in your travel makeup bags :)

New Goodies!

 eos Lip Balm in "Honeysuckle Honeydew"

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in "Sweet Nectar"

Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara in "Soft Black"

Carmex Original Moisturizing Lip Balm Tube

Stila Smudge Pot in "Kitten"

Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm Tin

Lip Vitamins Lip Balm in "Vanilla Bean"

Lip Vitamins Lip Balm in "Mixed Berries"

Lip Vitamins Lip Balm in "Fresh Mint"

Korres Lip Butter in "Pomegranate"

Korres Lip Butter in "Plum"

Stila Lip Glaze Trio Cool with "Grapefruit", "Seashell", and "Raisin"

Highlighter Brush (no brand?!)

Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment Conditioner

Revlon Pinch Me Sheer Gel Blush in "Playful Pink"

Revlon Pinch Me Sheer Gel Blush in "Peach Afterglow"

 Carmex Original Lip Tin

Pink and White Polkadot Modella Makeup Bag

Multi-Colored Polkadot Modella Makeup Bag

 ♥

August Favorites

I'm sorry, I could've sworn yesterday it was only June?!

Like every month, this one went by exceptionally fast! August is never fun in my opinion, only because it means I have to start thinking about getting back into school. 

I actually start my senior year tomorrow, and I wish I was more excited! I kind of want it to be May already so I can just graduate and be done, I'm really over highschool. My junior year was the MOST stressful one yet, I swear there was barely time for me to breathe so I kind of feel like I didn't get much of a break between that stress and the new stress of SAT's, applying to college, paying for college...blergh.

But anywho, here are the products I've been loving throughout August! I'm not going to do my usual description for each product about why I've been loving it just because I have a million and one things to do before tomorrow!

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Lemonade Moisture-Rich Body Lotion

China Glaze "For Audrey"

MAC Paint Pot in "Indianwood"

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in "Medium Sand"

Cargo OneBase Concealer + Foundation in "01"

L'oreal HIP Jelly Balm in "Plush"