Project 10 Pan (Here We Go)

For the past month, I’ve been heavily considering starting a project 10 pan (P10P), but couldn’t decide whether I was ready to fully commit to any period of time where I don’t shop for makeup. Well after finishing a few products in May and steady working on a few more, I’ve decided that now would be a good time for me to embrace a ‘use what you got’ aka ‘no buy’ project. My goal with this project is to purchase less makeup (and hopefully save some $$$) and also to enjoy the products that I already own. I do plan on purchasing products that I ‘need’ and run out of, like foundation. My collection is not huge by any means, but I want to stop the madness before I’m too far gone and overwhelmed.

So enough of the guilty, I-really-want-to-buy-more-products-and-am-making-a-list-as-I-write-this-post chatter. Below is the list of items that I plan to complete before purchasing any new 'non-necessity' makeup items (a few of them are already finished due to my wanting to start in May, sorry):

1.      Anastasia Brow Wiz - finished 5/21/14

2.      Model In A Bottle Setting Spray – finished 5/23/14

3.      NYX HD Concealer

4.      Tarte Clean Slate Primer

5.      Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Powder Foundation

6.      Lorac Behind the Scenes Primer

7.      Too Faced Primed & Poreless Face Primer

8.      Clinique Stay Matte Oil Free Foundation
9.   Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer – finished 6/24/2014
10. NYX Matte Bronzer

Have you ever done a Project Pan? 

A Blast From the Past

Well looky looky! While I was trying to log-in to my gmail account, I happened across this old blog post that I wrote on December 26th, 2013. This post was created on my personal blog site before I started makeupcraze, but I thought it would be nice to re-post it here. Spoiler alert: I never started this challenge, LOL!!!!!!

Going Into A New Year - Makeup Challenges 2014

So I have officially decided to go into a makeup no buy! I'm sure plenty of people say that because of the new year, but surprisingly this is not the reason that I decided to accept the challenge in today's coupon sending, consumer spending market. I am embarking on this journey solely due to the fact that I have so many products and need to learn some discipline. Like any journey, this one is going to be rather difficult, especially since it's so hard to avoid that pretty new blush or that shiny new package of lipstick that is supposed to be a life-changer. I suspect that the no buy will be fairly easy in the beginning since I just placed a Ulta order 5 minutes ago and I'm expecting some product from an Hautelook order (blushes from The Balm) that I placed during the Thanksgiving holiday. The most heart wrenching step of this journey will be to resist the temptation of YouTube. I am not yet an 'official' YouTuber, but more of an innocent bystander that gets caught in the crossfires of the Sigma brushes (which I hoped to have purchased by now) and the Benefit products. I plan to walk this path until March and see how it goes by then I should be completely out of foundation and hope to shed my Makeup Hoarder shell of a personality. 

What are you giving up in 2014? Please comment below.

It’s a Dirty Job, but…….

Somebody’s got to do it! SMH, if I could get someone else to do it, I would. Unfortunately, not everyone would clean my beloved makeup brushes as well as I would and lately I’ve been super lazy about cleaning them. I know, I know! So this week I got up off my lazy you-know-what and gave them a good scrub. I used baby shampoo and also tried a little white vinegar for the hard-to-clean foundation brushes. Now that everyone has had a bath and I’m running out of baby shampoo, I’m considering purchasing the MAC Brush Cleaner just to try something new. I’ve tried the Beautyblender solid beautycleanser bar for my brushes. I am not a fan. I’m open to any recommendations that you lovely ladies may have (says my inner makeup junkie).

How often do you wash your makeup brushes? What’s your cleaner of choice?

Product Probe: Clinique Stay Matte Oil-Free Foundation

Whew! That’s a long name for such a seemingly small bottle of foundation. I purchased this product at my local Clinique counter in Belk. I’ve made the mistake of ordering the wrong color of foundation before and wanted to be color matched before I purchased. Honestly I only really purchased it because it came with a free gift. With this product, you get the typical 1 oz. of product in a plastic bottle, which isn’t so bad since the product squeezes out. Overall, I am not a fan of this product. For $23, this isn’t a very matte foundation and even though it’s lightweight, it does not provide the full coverage that I like. I find that it separates easily and does very little to control my oily skin even with a oil control primer (hourglass mineral veil). All in all, I would not repurchase or recommend this product for someone with my skin type. Those with normal to dry skin may really love the formulation.

Have you tried any Clinique Foundations?

Project X Pan Expedition

Long time no see, right? I’ve been very busy moving and haven’t had time to post, but I’m back and ready to go!!!! Lately I’ve been really considerate of the amount of money that I spend on makeup. Granted I don’t regret any of my purchases (even the ones for products that SUCK!!!), but I, like many other makeup lovers, want to take the time to enjoy the products that I have and know I love (like my NARS blush). At this point, I’m considering attempting a Project Pan. If you are unfamiliar with Project Pan, it is goal setting at its best. The idea is that you have to use up X amount of products before you buy new makeup, except to replace an item that you need and don’t have a backup of. While I don’t have a GINOURMOUS collection like some beauty lovers, I sometimes dream about the day I use up my NYX jumbo pencils or my Naked 3 palette. I am undecided, but would love to hear input from you lovely ladies.

Should I do it? How big is your makeup stash? 

Beauty Wish Lists

Am I the only one that maintains a list of future beauty purchases? There are so many great products on the market and in order to remain some semblance of self control, I create lists of products that I would like to try (one for MAC and one for Sephora/everywhere else). I also frequent Sephora.com and love items that I want to try in the future. By keeping products on my radar, it helps me control my makeup spending and it allows me to fine tune the list and separate things by the items that I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want.  Here are a few of the products I want to try in the future, but will NOT purchase until I use some up some of my current goodies.

Here are my top 5 Wish List items:

1.       Inglot Eyeshadows and Blushes – Freedom System Items so that I can put them in a z-palette.

2.       NARS blushes – I own seduction and I love it more than any of my other blushes

3.       MUG (MakeupGeek) eyeshadows, pigments,  and eye brushes (specifically the liner , pencil, and outer v brushes)

4.       Estee Lauder DoubleWear Foundation – This is supposed to be great for oily skin, but I haven’t purchased it yet because I have 3 foundations that I want to use prior to getting a new one. (Currently rotating: MAC StudioFix Fluid, Clinique Stay Matte Foundation, and Lancome Teint Idole)

5.       MAC blushes – I plan to finish filling my MAC blush palette that only has 1 item in it to date. I specifically want to purchase Coppertone, Blunt (for contouring), and a shaping powder as well.

What’s on your makeup wish list?

Product Probe: Model in a Bottle

Price: $18.00

According to the product’s website, Model In A Bottle is a matte makeup setting spray that is supposed to allow makeup to last all day with little to no touchups. I was hesitant to purchase this product as it can only be purchased online and is not available in any major retailer (like Sephora or Ulta). I brought this product 2 years ago at cherryculture.com. While I enjoyed it because it lives up to its claims, this setting spray is highly fragranced, sprays heavily, and is difficult to obtain, unlike the Urban Decay and Kat Von D setting sprays. I would probably not repurchase it because of those reasons, but if you are willing to purchase online, this is a must have. The price seems a bit high, but I have used the product 3 or 4 times a week for the past 2 years before I ran out.

What’s your favorite makeup setting spray?