Weird... but Cute!

This was just too cute to pass up when I spotted it... seems too cute for bath tissue though!

De-stashing Phase 2

Phase 1 for me was setting aside stuff I definitely want to keep and throwing out what I know I don't. That part was easy.  Now I have to sift through what's left, and that's almost an entire Helmer, but including nail polish so I think that's pretty good!

I'm trying to find dupes for nail polishes especially, since I know I left the US with them, but who knows if I'll be able to bring them back.

First was Orly Lunar Eclipse, which is one of my all time faves- at one time I had two bottles of it.  I love it especially for a toe polish.  I had this blue MUA I wanted to see if they're similar.

Not even close, but I despise MUA so it wasn't a difficult choice.  

Next is the Gosh Galaxy I just bought, and Essence Gold Old Buffy.  I thought they looked a little similar in the bottle but my eyes must be going really bad.  

Again, no.  I am not sure if I should keep either one though.  I don't know why the Gosh chipped on me so easily, and I really like the Essence one, but I have to narrow things down somehow.  

New Purchases: Gosh Nail Polishes

I am trying my best to do a no-buy, and not just for makeup but everything... the only things I want to buy besides necessities are things I'll take with me, or things I won't be upset about when I have to throw them away.

I've always seen the famous Gosh 549 polish online, but since the old version was special and this one isn't, I never bought it-- and it's so easy to resist online!  Not so easy in the store.  I spotted a brand new Gosh display that was swarming, I mean swarming, with people so I had no clue what to get I was a bit freaked out over the frenzy.  Luckily I am a bit tall, so the nail polishes were easy for me to get.  I got 549 "Holographic Hero" and 612 "Galaxy"... oh they are pretty!  Galaxy is a dark olive-gold with some holographic sparkles, it says Special Edition and easy to spot with the star cap.  I wish they would have written "24 hour wear" on it as well, because that's how long it took to chip on me... really badly, too- I had to remove it all the day after I put it on. I don't know if this is how all their polishes are, but if it is, I'll not be buying another, definitely not worth it!

EOTD: Oldies but still Goodies!

I havent done much with my eyes lately, so I decided to try to see if I even had the ability anymore.  These were two of my favourite eyeshadows not too long ago, so I didn't have the heart to throw them out- MAC Sex-pectations and Nars Daphne.  They still perform as new and don't have any weird smell, so they're keepers for now!

Interesting ... Maybelline Colossal Kajal

This product is so, so old, but I think they just now started selling it outside of India.  I don't normally  like twist ups, and the yellow is really unappealling to me so I didn't buy it, but I did see dozens of people flocking towards the display.  I don't even do my eyes like that but it is a pretty picture!

Need to find: Facial Cleanser

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good facial cleanser? Since I've been using Lush the past few months, I really love the exfoliating type and it works very well for me, so I'd prefer that over a foam or smooth cleanser. I have no idea what or even where, I might try BBW or Body Shop. I was thinking maybe Soap & Glory or something from the drugstore- I don't want it medicinal but I don't think I need anything extra special either. Now that I think about it, probably any generic apricot scrub would be great. I sure wish I had access to this:

UOUO Strawberry BB Cream

UOUO is an Asian drugstore brand.  I wanted to give it a try, and I bought this BB cream in shade 01.

It has a really nice, light, strawberry scent, but more synthetic, like a strawberry lollipop.  I thought it was pleasant.  

On the left, you can see it absolutely perfectly blends in to my skin, it did so on my face as well.  The right is a heavy swatch: 

On my face: 

I am on the fence about this product; unfortunately it has a lot of negatives. My skin really absorbed it, just like the other creams I've tried so far, and it has a really nice, smooth texture and it really evens out my skin tone- I have quite a few really light freckles (like a typical red or strawberry blonde haired person is the best I can describe that) and this covers them and makes my face look very smooth and uniform.  

The negatives I experienced- first, I feel like it made my face look a little too light, which my face is light enough already, but it may have been just because usually any cream product on my face makes it look a tad darker, so this in fact may be a more suitable shade for me.  It also took a while to dry down on my face, more than a few minutes, and I don't think it provides any oil control.  It also didn't last on me all day, and no way it will last in any humidity or water.  It did fare a lot better topped with setting powder.  So for me, it works, and it's really a bargain as well.  I'd much rather use this than something like the Garnier one, despite it's low price.  

I am editing one month later to add I've been using it since the tube is so huge, and I like it a lot more. I just don't use moisturizer prior to using it, at all. I'll leave my moisturizer on overnight and in the morning use this, and its worked well. I don't notice it being too light anymore either. I still experience that it isn't heat proof, but almost nothing is.

My new Beauty Case

I am so happy with this purchase! There is a store not too far that carries all sorts of luggage, and some are so cute! Even though I have Hartmanns and the trusted German aluminum Rimowas that I've had since the 90s and not ashamed of it! I hadn't bought any luggage for a long time, and I couldn't resist the prints, but they turned out to be really good suitcases. Heys is a Canadian brand, and the hard cases are polycarbonate. The photos I am posting below that are not my own are from Heys.ca.

Introducing my new case:

I really love the pattern but I love the interior, and I love that it comes with straps.  I also got this for only 35€ which is a real bargain.  Even though I got the large one for 50, and I'd get more if I had space or need.  

I'm sorry but I couldn't seem to get a good photo of the interior, but here are the features:  

They really have some beautiful cases, the ones from this line are all animal themed.  The first suitcase I got from them was leopard, and I wanted this beauty case but at the time they didn't have it.  When I went back, they didn't have leopard, only this lace one and a blue butterfly one.  When I looked on their website, I didn't even see leopard as an option in the beauty case.  

They have many cool ones, but some (like the butterfly ones) are matte, which I didn't prefer.  

So far, these have proven to be quite durable, although I've only just now used the beauty case.  I brought this big Caboodles case with me, which has seen far too many journeys, and it was on its last limb anyway.  Last week I gave it away, stuffed with makeup which I was very happy to be rid of.  

Of course, the new one doesn't hold nearly as much, and it doesn't have any neat little trays, but it's still very functional (and stylish- I hope!).  

Heys also has a huge selection of handbags, all very reasonably priced.  And I'm sorry if this post sounds like a commercial I swear it isn't, I just really like my new bag!! 

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow Swatches

...again!  I know these aren't new shades but I've recently purchased Goldmine, Purple Obsession, Ultimate Black, and Naughty Strawberry.

I haven't used these all that much, and they aren't the best I've tried either. I did get some fallout from Goldmine.  And I wouldn't recommend Ultimate Black either, it's not ultimate.... or black.  It's really weak, and Purple Obsession tends to wear off on me.  

My box of these is almost filled, I think room for only two more.  

I don't know why I started collecting these, because my favourite is still Burning Black, the first one I ever got.  

Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream

I got this in shade 21, Light Beige.

Left is a heavy swatch, right is blended: 

I really, really love this BB Cream, it is so much better than foundation for me.  I am having a hard time describing it, but my face absorbs it like a lotion, but it's not runny, and once it's on, I totally can't feel it, at all.  I can see a big difference though.  It really reduces the redness in my face, and gives it a smoother appearance.  

I love how it covers, but doesn't feel like it at all.  I really hope that my natural skin improves (or at least doesn't get worse!) from using it, if so, then I'll definitely buy it again, I really like it a lot more than foundation, I feel like my skin breathes with it on, if that makes sense.  The only negative thing I can say about it is that it smells weird, like a mix of acne medicine and Nair, but it only lasts a little while, not the whole day or anything, I can't smell it once it's actually on my face after a couple of minutes.  

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, wishing everyone a wonderful day!

Brush Essentials: Save or Splurge?

So the countdown has begun and although it seems such a longtime away, I will be leaving. Since most of my brushes are (still!) packed, I am not going to bother unpacking them but I need to pick out some essential ones that are good but I won't mind if they get worn out. Either that or I can use my faves and hope they don't get worn out. It's a dilemma lol!

The ones I use everyday are in order of importance to me: eyebrow, concealer, eyeshadow- flat and fluffy, eyeliner, and face- cream and powder. So that's seven brushes total.

I thought I was going to just stick with one set, so I got my Sigma travel set out, which I never used.  It does have an eyeliner brush, but look at this disgusting glue on the concealer brush!  And how is that even a concealer brush, unless you are concealing your entire face, that thing is way too freakin big!!

Nice, right? 

But look again: 

Eww!

I really have no idea which brushes to choose, I have sooo many beautiful brushes but I just don't know.  On a side note, I could just kick myself for buying so many damn nail plates!!  I think I have like 500 by now, disgusting I know.... but I might as well pack a ton of bricks, those things are way too heavy!! 

I think this is all my brushes: 

These are the ones I've picked out so far: 

Laura Mercier brow/spoolie- just randomly picked, I haven't used it in a long time though

Essence flat and small round- they aren't very good quality so I'm worried they won't last very long

Sonia Kashuk flat eye- had it for years, very dependable 

Real Techniques Setting- can use for highlighter and concealer powder 

Sigma F80- good flat face brush

Bdellium 955- can use for powder, blush, even light bronzer or highlighter, it's a very tall brush, first one I saw sitting out cause I actually have a few of these same types

eyeliner- I chose the Hakuhodo cause I use it every single day 

I still need the fluffy eye and concealer- the ones I use daily are Hakuhodo as well, but I am concerned they might wear out but I might just buy backups and problem solved.  

Anybody have any other recommendations?   

Skin Food Salmon Dark Circle Concealer

I bought this in #1, a 10 gram jar for around $8.  It's a real bargain, because it is an excellent product!

It is really creamy, just the perfect texture: 

On the left is blended, right is a heavy swatch: 

You are supposed to apply this over foundation, but I've used it alone and it was also good, the only thing I observed is that it's a little glossy looking.  I tried to capture the same exact lighting, with and without the concealer.  Now, I don't feel like I suffer from dark circles necessarily, so I probably don't get as dramatic of an effect as someone who does.  

I also tried it with foundation: 

It probably would have been better to top with powder but that's a lot of layers on my face for me. I tried this concealer on other spots and it was good as well.  I really like the consistency and it's really easy to blend out, at first I was worried about the salmony colour but it turns out fine.  Oh, and the only other thing, I didn't know this but it actually smells a little salmony too.  Kinda icky at first but it doesn't last very long!  

Bourjois 1001 Lashes Mascara in Black Quartz

This mascara promises to "reach every single lash", and I wanted to try it especially for my bottom and corner lashes.

The brush is purely plastic, so it is really hard and rigid.  I had to be extra careful to avoid jabbing myself in the eye.  

My results: 

This mascara is all right on its own, I didn't get any clumping but it tends to flake a bit towards the end of the day.  I feel like it does a great job defining,separating, and lengthening, but I don't get any volume from it at all, so I like to pair it with something else- below I used Essence "Big Lashes".  I prefer applying layers before they dry.  

Overall, it's not a bad mascara and it's great for bottom lashes, but I wouldn't buy it again because of the brush, and because I like to use just a single mascara most of the time.  

Lush FUN Logs

I wanted to get my son something "fun" for bathtime, and this is supposed to work as a bubble bath and body wash.  (And a shampoo and modeling fun too)....

It comes in coloured logs- I got him the green (lemon-lime) and the pink one smelled soooo good- like baby powder but more perfume-y, even though Lush says "childhood candy scented" so I got that for myself.  Blue is lavender, yellow is vanilla, and red is orange juice.  

Here is what chunks of them look like: 

The only problem is, they are supposed to bubble up, and they don't- not enough for a bath, anyway.  It doesn't colour the bath either, but it didn't claim to.  We were fine using it as a body wash, although I think it's too dry to use as a shampoo.  I haven't used a bar soap in well, decades, but this is a lot crumblier so I take it off in chunks and can't leave it in the shower either cause it basically melts in there.  

The great thing about this is that it really does smell amazing, and the scent really lasts for a long time.  I can also say it leaves you with a fresh, clean feeling.  

Overall, I think it is fun, for a kid, but I think I'll stick with body wash!