Randomness: Project 10 Pan Update

Morning Lovelies! I had a post all geared up and ready to go this morning, but it just didn’t feel quite right, so instead I’m posting an impromptu project pan update (yay). While I’m not going to show the actual products because I haven’t made a big dent since the weekly makeup basket (shown here), I thought I’d share with you what I’ve actually finished so far. Mind you, this is makeup only (which is pretty darn hard to do in my opinion). So here’s the list of items I’ve finished with P10P items in purple.

• Make Up Forever Mat Velvet + - This used to be really mattifying for me, but lately hasn’t seemed to hold a candle to my Revlon Colorstay. I would repurchase this again.

• NYX HD Concealer – Still not quite sure how I feel about this one. I did like the applicator and the price!

• Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara – At the price, can’t beat it with a stick. I would definitely repurchase this once I get through some of my deluxe samples of mascara.

• Clinique Stay Matte Foundation – I don’t even know why they put ‘Stay Matte’ in the name of the foundation. It may be good for normal skin, but did not work on my oily t-zone.

• Model in a Bottle – I really like this setting spray, but would like to try the Skindinavia setting spray for comparison.

• Anastasia Brow Wiz – I need this in my life. ‘Nuff said

• Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer – Same as the Anastasia Brow Wiz, it’s a must have.
• Lorac Behind the Scenes Primer – I can’t really tell the difference between the staying power of this and the Urban Decay Primer Potion, I’ll buy whichever is on sale.

Project 10 Pan Update!!!!

It has been a long two months and it’s been a really long, boring project 10 pan. I’ve been really struggling to stay focused and find myself frequently getting bored with my project 10 pan items. In any case, here’s a quick update.  Oh and I’m thinking of holding off on ‘panning’ the Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Powder Foundation. I have hit pan on it and would like to continue to use it up, but it’s a little heavy for the summer weather….so I may remove it…hadn’t made up my mind quite yet.

 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 – 8/1/14 ?? 

 7.      Too Faced Primed & Poreless Face Primer

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

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

 10. NYX Matte Bronzer

Randomness: I Want To Buy….

New Makeup!!!! I know I’m on a project 10 pan. I know I really don’t NEED new makeup, but…..with a stressful semi-new job and no school for the summer, I really want to purchase some shiny, new products that I probably won’t even open. I am trying to break away from my hoarder mentality, but it’s hard when there is so much makeup out there that is just waiting for a new home. So for your entertainment, I’m going to list all the products that I've been eyeing lately along with some pictures (courtesy of Sephora.com).

1. Nars Creamy Concealer

2. Nars Sheer Matte Foundation

3. Benefit 'They're Real' Eyeliner

4. Bobbi Brown Corrector

5. Ellis Faas Creamy Eyes

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.

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?

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?

Wait….You Put That Where???

No, I’m not writing about that. Get your mind out of the gutter! There are many very unusual beauty secrets that are not only a little weird, but they’re also very affordable alternatives to expensive makeup products. One of my personal favorites is Milk of Magnesia. While this is commonly used as an antacid or laxative, it’s also a great primer. I actually used this (hubby gave me the side eye when I brought it) and it does stop you from becoming an oily mess by the end of the day. I know it sounds strange, but this is a great alternative to the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer. Another beauty favorite is Preparation H. This little gem not only reduce the size of hemorrhoids (if you have that problem), but it also reduces under eye puffiness. And let’s not forget about the Monistat Chaffing Gel, not only is it good for ‘other places’ but it’s also another great primer. Who would’ve thunk it?

What are your unusual beauty secrets?

Randomness: The Great Lash Divide

While many love the look of lash extensions also known as false eyelashes, I have yet to be amazed by them for my makeup looks. They look great on others, but the amount of time it takes to apply correctly and then conceal with eyeliner (which I have yet to master) seems like too much time to spend on any given day. I typically tend to spend 30-45 minutes every morning on my makeup. Am I the only one out there that feels like this? Maybe it’s because while my natural lashes aren’t super amazing, they’re not sparse. I just feel like adding extensions to them would really just be more work for me without that great of a payoff. I probably just haven’t found the right brand of lashes yet.

Where do you stand on falsies? If you like them, what are you favorite brands and style (maybe I’ll try a few)?