November 2014 Eyeshadow Palette of the Month: MAC Leopard Lux Quad

Hi there! After my recent birthday/holiday splurges, I think it’s best if I try to focus on using one eyeshadow palette a month. I am a complete eyeshadow/blush lover (or hoarder), so I figure I would start choosing one palette to use each month to ensure that all of my eyeshadows get some love. . I think I have enough eyeshadows to last me all the way until 2016, but I’m sure that won’t stop me from getting more at the next makeup sale.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, one being that I will always use MAC Brown Script no matter what palette I’m using because it’s such an awesome transition color for me. Without further ado, below are swatches from MAC’s Leopard Lux Quad, ENJOY!

Top To Bottom: Furiously Fabulous (VP), Style Predator (VP), Notoriety (V), Wild By Nature (M) 

What eyeshadow palette are you using this month?

Lorac Mega Pro Palette (Limited Edition) -_-

Seriously Lorac? Couldn’t make a few hundred thousand more Mega palettes so that everyone could get one? Unfortunately, the Lorac Mega Pro palette is selling out everywhere, but Amazon is due to have 1 more shipment coming in, so if you are interested sign up now to get an e-mail notification when the palette becomes available, I promise you won’t regret it. 

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?

Project 10 Pan (P10P) Pitfalls

In yesterday’s post, I briefly mentioned how disillusioned I was when starting my project pan. I was WAYYYYY off track and over ambitious with the products that I chose, but I’m way too stubborn to just give up. So after 4 months of project pan, I am modifying the rules a bit.

I am allowing myself to purchase makeup after I finish any 10 products or if I haven’t reached my goal by October 16^th (my birthday), I am allowed birthday splurges.

Yep, I said it. I am determined to finish and even if I don’t finish before my b-day, I plan to continue my project pan. While I do plan on purchasing for my birthday, if my project pan items are not finished, I will not be opening any new products. I am freakishly scared about makeup expiration dates, so I don’t want to open anything new until I can commit the time to thoroughly enjoy it.

Now on to the mistakes I’ve made when undertaking my Project Pan:

#1  Not giving myself a timeframe. Shoot, if I would’ve given myself a 2-month timeframe I probably would’ve been more serious in this undertaking and would’ve have gotten bored with my makeup (hence the lack of blog posts).

#2  Not picking items that were close to being finished. My bad. I should have chosen products that were on the brink of being finished that way I could have a sense of accomplishment, especially when I started with the Kat Von D powder foundation, it was practically brand new. I am all about the small wins.

#3  Not giving myself any wiggle room. In retrospect, I should have picked more than 10 items so that if one product was taking too long, I could still finish at least 10 things. Adding a few ‘extra’ products would’ve also given me some variation and change to stop the boredom of a constant project pan.

Are you currently on a project pan or focusing on using some of your products up? Any advice on how I can improve my next P10P?

Project 10 Pan…Is it time to call it quits?

In June, I posted the details of my project 10 pan here and to be honest, it’s been a long one. I must admit that I was completely disillusioned about the amount of time it takes to finish makeup products, but I did learn some valuable lessons along the way, which I will share later this week. Until then, here is a peek at what’s been going on with my project 10 pan items.

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

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

 3.   NYX HD Concealer – finished 5/12/14

 4.   Tarte Clean Slate Primer -> This one is taking forever to finish because I HATE  it.

 5.   Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Powder Foundation -> I like this for setting my liquid foundation, but by the end of a long work day it seems to slide off. I like the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish (MSF) better, but maybe it's the primer that I'm using.

 6.   Lorac Behind the Scenes Primer – 8/1/14?? 

 7.   Too Faced Primed & Poreless Face Primer – I haven’t use this in a while because I’m trying to focus on finishing that dreaded Tarte primer first.

 8.   Clinique Stay Matte Oil Free Foundation – finished 8/20/14

 9.   Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer – finished 6/24/14

 10. NYX Matte Bronzer – I use this for a slight contour so a little goes a long way, I can see a dip in the pan so this is a good deal for the money.

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? 

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? 

Brand Review: Morphe Brushes (and eyeshadows too!)

While it is nice to have a collection of M.A.C eye shadows or the latest Urban Decay palette, often times there is a need to ‘ball on a budget’. If I had unlimited funds, I wouldn’t worry about spending $50 on the Urban Decay Naked 3 or Lorac Pro palette, but since I have to work for a living, there are alternatives for the budget conscious. Besides, being beat and beautiful doesn’t have to be expensive.

Morphe Brushes 35 color glam palette    $19.95

Morphe Brushes 35 color warm palette    $19.95

The Morphe Brush Company is located out of California and offers high quality makeup brushes and eye shadows at affordable prices. Shadows or brushes can be purchased individually or in sets. Individual eye shadow pans are $2 each for quality pigmentation. This option allows you to purchase only the colors that you will use. Check them out at www.morphebrushes.com.

                                              What is your favorite budget friendly eye shadow?