Catch Up Time!

I've been such a naughty blogger, huh?  Please bare with me, I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow. Baby is due anytime now so I apologize for not putting a lot of focus on the blog. Anyway, I quickly wanted to share some of my recent purchases with you...

MAC Parisian Skies and Hocus Pocus from Blogger's Obsessions

To quickly sum up my thoughts on the shadows, I expected to love Hocus Pocus more than I do. It's GORGEOUS, I just don't think it blends as well as I'd like it to. I still need to play with it more. Parisian Skies is a beautiful color. I'm not big on blue but this one is special. It's the kind of color that can work for a whole array of people. It's also very pigmented and the color payoff is excellent.

Parisian Skies

Hocus Pocus

Ulta: Seche Vite Top Coat, Butter London Nail Lacquer in Teddy Girl, Earth Therapeutics pumice stone and ceramic pedicure tool

Sephora: Benefit Legally Broze set, YSL Faux Cils mascara (deluxe sample), Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Jo'Mina, Happy Birthday, Beautiful! from Philosophy (my Sephora birthday gift!)

I already swatched the Legally Bronze set and I tested everything out, I just need to review it. Oh and I also bought something for the MAC Me Over collection that I can't wait to share with you guys. :)

I love value sets!

Okay, so last year Sephora released the limited edition "Legally Bronze" set from Benefit. I lusted for it and I kicked myself later for not buying it because A) I loved everything in it (except maybe the Bad Gal mascara but I'd use it anyway!) and B) the price was a steal for what you were getting. Now it's back in stock.

Remember me??

Everything in the set is full size. That's right, full size. If you're no stranger to Benefit, then you know their prices are pretty up there. For example, High Beam alone is $26, Hoola is $28, etc. Also, Gilded is featured in the set. I have one that I received a long time ago from a gift with purchase. Without giving away too many details (saving them for a review), this pencil rocks but it's no longer available for purchase on its own. The set retails for $38. Yes, $38 USD. I just ordered mine last night. I wanted to give you ladies a heads up in case you wanted to get your paws on it too. I'll give a more in-depth review of each product after I receive it.

Buy it here

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! :)

Benefit's Bella Bamba: A Quick Review!

So, I ordered Bella Bamba a few weeks ago. From looking at pictures online, it looked like the perfect pink. My idea of the perfect pink is a color that can suit cool and warm skin, light and and dark. Benefit describes it as "A watermelon-pink blush laced with shimmering gold undertones". They claim that it "creates the illusion of sculpted features". For $28 USD, you're getting .28 oz. of product versus their other collection of boxed powders which all have .35 oz. of product.

I think the packaging is very pretty and nice to look at. One of the first things I picked up on when I opened this was the watermelon scent. It's DELICIOUS! The blush itself is very pigmented. I mean, VERY pigmented! I can't stress that enough so use a light hand with this, especially if you're very pale. I found that this blush gave me a perfect flush. Looking at it in the pan or when it's swatched on my arm, you might think this would be way too shimmery but it doesn't transfer that way onto the face. Overall, it's a pretty color and I definitely recommend. Though, I do feel like the price is a little steep for a blush but you get a lot of product. 

MAC & Sephora Goodies :)

Yesterday, I picked up a few things at MAC from the Cham-Pale collection (now in stores and online in the US). I also saw the Stylishly Yours collection. I wasn't wowed by anything in particular, but overall, I liked what I saw. I'm a golden, sparkly, neutral lovin' woman so Cham-Pale was right up my alley. Then today, I received my package from Sephora.

Click the picture to zoom in

I'm sorry if the picture quality isn't fantastic but I'm using my backup camera until I get my baby back! So here's what I got:

Benefit - Bella Bamba

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ (Shade: 25)

MAC Special Reserve Highlight Powder in Rose Ole

MAC Fix+ Lavendar

MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20

I'm excited to test this stuff out, except for the foundation because I already know how fantastic it is. However, I would like to formally discuss in a future post my personal opinions on Mat Velvet+ versus the HD foundation. As for the Chromagraphic pencil, I wanted that sucker since Pret-A-Papier but it sold out before I could get my paws on it. I'm also interested in Fix+. From what I read, it's like a love / hate thing. I've never used it before but I hear that you either can't live without it or it's just nothing more than special water. I haven't used Bella Bamba yet, but it smells just like watermelon. Seriously, it's yummy! I was just surprised by how small it was compared to the other boxed powders. Last but not least, the highlight powder. Originally, I was going to buy both of them (the other being Chez Chez Lame) but I don't think it's worth having both. They're really pretty, but not essential. I think I was drawn in by the pretty design but I'll give you a better review when I try everything out. 

My Favorite Fall / Winter Mascara!

My favorite mascara to whip out during fall and winter is Benefit's Bad Gal Plum. Plum mascaras are like gold eye shadows, they compliment all eye colors beautifully. I know Urban Decay has some really pretty colored mascaras and one of them is similar to this. However, I couldn't find it on Sephora so maybe it's discontinued? Anyway, if I remember correctly, their version was more reddened than this one.

Sold separately, these retail for $19 USD but every year they release a (full size) combo pack of the original (black) Bad Gal mascara and the plum for $29 USD. Good deal, no? 

My only problem with the Bad Gal mascaras is the MONSTER brush! I don't get the "beautiful and bodacious" lashes they claim to offer and frankly, I find the big brush hard to work with and maneuver. That aside, it doesn't really matter with the plum version since I use it on my lower lashes and I coat the tips of my upper lashes. This works well with black and brown mascaras. I suppose you could wear this alone and it'd look really neat, but I just use it to add effect with black mascara.

Have you tried this one yet or the ones from Urban Decay? Do you know of any other brands that offer colored mascaras that are worth the mention? 

By the way, HAPPY FRIDAY! Any weekend plans? I'm doing chores, chores, and MORE CHORES today! I have to get my home ready for the tree and sparkling for Christmas. Oh, happy day! (<--- a bit of sarcasm for ya)

What's In My Makeup Bag?

Okay, so before I start off, I'd like to offer you a tip. If you're an online shopper, like myself, sites like Sephora and Ulta offer three free samples with every purchase. Take advantage of them! Samples are great because they fit so nicely into makeup bags. Even brands like MAC and NARS offer free samples from time to time, though you usually need a promo code to get them.

1. Makeup Bag: It's just the right size for me. I got it from Walmart for maybe $2 USD. Cute, compact, AND cheap?! Oh, happy day!

2. Some kind of lip color: Whether it's gloss, lipstick, balm, whatever, I always like to have something for my lips. In this case, it's been MAC Hue lately..

3. Mascara: This mascara is MAC Zoomlash. For months, they were given as a free sample with purchase (using a promo code) when you shopped online. I have quite a few of these to sock away for my makeup bag / mascara 'emergencies'. 

5. Concealer: This isn't always a must for me, but I do throw it in when I get a breakout -- especially when I know that I'm not going to be home all day and my face might require a quick fix. This concealer is from Physician's Formula. It came in a set of three (concealer, yellow concealer, and eye brightener).

4. Stila Convertible Color in Peony: Again, this is also sample-sized -- perfect for a makeup bag. This came with the Glam-In-A-Can set. I don't know if this color in particular is permanent but it's a gorgeous pinky-nude that works well for lips and a blush. A tiny multi-tasking product = awesome. This color is extremely similar to MAC Hug Me.

6. Perfume: This is Kat Von D's Sinner perfume that I picked as a sample from Sephora online. Again, tiny and perfect for on the go. (And, it smells nice too!)

7. Benefit's Some-Kinda-Gorgeous: As a foundation? Heck, no! I like a more fuller coverage / polished look. However, I do like this for quick touch ups. You know, when it's the end of the day and everything's faded. It's very light (coverage) and dries to a powder finish. Again, this is a sample size that I received with the Benefit to Go set from Sephora ($10 USD).

8. MAC (Hello Kitty) Beauty Powder in Pretty Baby: Gosh, I thought I'd never find any use for this. It's so LIGHT! However, if my skin get's oily, a light dusting with this does the trick (without turning my whole face pink). And, it comes with a mirror, so that's cool too.

9. Last but not least, a kabuki brush! I don't like to throw my good brushes in my makeup bag and plus, they're too big. This is a mini kabuki brush from Eco Tools (Ulta, Target). It's inexpensive but it's also a great brush.

Some things to consider when taking makeup with you:

Think about how much makeup you actually need. Preferably, I like to take a light cover up, a powder, mascara, and some kind of lip color. It helps to bring a compact or something with a mirror so you can see what you're doing. If you're the kind of gal who likes to line her waterline, bring an eyeliner. If you were blessed with fabulous skin, you can probably skip on bringing any cover up. I usually bring extra bobby pins and a hair band because they're always good to have on hand, ya know? I also keep Colgate Wisps (mini toothbrushes) on hand because you never know when you might need them... right?

What's in your makeup bag??