Product Probe: Z-Palette's

If you've read yesterday's post, you are all too aware of my hellish, self-inflicted ordeal with depotting some of my eyeshadows. Despite my trials with depotting, I really do love the idea of being able to make a custom palette with eyeshadows, blushes, and bronzers that I already own. Not only does this help me use products that I am less-likely to use due to bulky packaging, or the fact the the product is hidden in my drawer under other products. With me making a point to love all my products, having the ability to add a blush or an eyeshadow to a weekly palette makes getting ready for work SOOO much easier (since I seem to wake up at the very last second, every single day). So on to the review.....

I was so excited to receive my Z-Palette, which I purchased from the Makeup Geek store online. Not only are Z-Palettes available in various colors, they are also fairly priced at $20 for a large palette (the size shown in yesterday's post). One of the good things about Z-Palettes is that they come with square and round magnets that have stickers on the back, which can be easily attached to various product pans, if the pans do not automatically stick to the bottom of the palette. Unfortunately, for the price, I am not a fan of the decorated cardboard that is used to make the Z-Palette. While it's sturdy for sitting on one's makeup vanity, if you try to clean it, it's a wet mess. I would much rather spend $8 for the large MAC pro palette, which is made of more durable materials. I really want to love the Z-Palette, but for the price and the material, the MAC palettes are a much better buy (and you can buy the same magnet stickers online starting at $3 from Amazon).

Do you own a Z-Palette? What's your preference?

Randomness: MyCosmetics App

Guess what?! I recently downloaded the greatest app ever! Okay, maybe not the greatest app ever, but it's pretty darn good if you love your makeup and want to keep your stash organized. It not only helps me ease some of my makeup hoarder anxiety, but it is also very easy to use. Basically what the app does is allow you to track when you open a product and the product expiration. Below is a screenshot of what the app looks like along with a step by step of how to use it. Enjoy!

This screen appears once you click on the app icon. From here you select the category of makeup you want to enter or review.

I selected powder, which is where I entered a powder that I opened up this morning. Now a list of entered items under the powder category appears by brand and product name. To add a product, simply click the '+' in the upper right corner.

By clicking on the powder I want to look up, the app shows the product info., expiration date, and a picture if one was taken. I haven't added a pic to this one yet, but I'll update this post with a picture this week.

Spring Cleaning: Makeup Expiration Dates

Spring is in the air and for me that means lots of spring cleaning. Earlier this week as I began to store my makeup, I also took the opportunity to do a bit of organizing. I separated all of my new unopened products, frequently used products, and ‘for special occasions’ products into piles and begin to systematically organize them.  This process also allowed me to go through my collection and decide which products needed to be tossed.

As you may (or may not) know, makeup expires. This is a sore spot for me, I HATE throwing away a half used product, but in order to prevent bacteria and breakouts, it is a necessary evil. With some products it is easy to determine that it has expired (i.e. it smells bad or has begun to separate), but for other products expiration is more difficult to determine. Luckily, there is a great site that allows you to enter the brand and batch code and will tell you if a product is no longer safe for use. Check Cosmetic  is simple to use and makes it easier to decide what to toss and what to keep.  Sadly, my M.A.C. MSF is no longer good, but a trip to the M.A.C. counter will allow me to pick up some pigments that I’ve been scoping out.

What was the last expired product you threw away?