Illamasqua Haul!

When I saw this nailpolish, Facet, I wasn't taking any chances so I bought it right away. I haven't used it yet because I have just done my nails. Yes, I broke my own promise not to buy any polish until December but who can blame me.

Some of these things were on sale. I somehow lost a blush I loved so I got a replacement, I got two matte shadows (bad reputation, hopefully I can make them work), two brushes- which are shedding very badly already....I hope they don't keep doing so since they are not cheap brushes!- and some foundation; I did start using that today. Then they had an awesome looking box that had two polishes, a cream (mega sparkly) shadow, an eyeliner and a set of lashes I'll never use but for a real bargain price, I really could not pass on it.

I tried to do these swatches but my left hand had surgery so never sits right, and I'm out of good light as well- it's something at least haha! And I actually didnt have any issues with the eyeshadow, it's matte but not chalky and had excellent payoff, I really like it....I do think the Étude House primer makes a huge difference though!

FACET

OBSESS

MUSE

L'Oreal False Lash Wings Mascara Review

I bought waaaay too many mascaras since... I can't believe, since almost six months ago, so now I'm at the point where I have to use them or toss them. Because of that, I've really only been testing them for a couple of weeks, which I think is fair enough to come to a good conclusion on them.

This display looked so cool, showing lashes "like butterfly wings". I can't believe I'm still falling for ads like that. I haven't tried a L'Oreal mascara in a really long time so I thought it was worth a shot.

It's supposed to make your lashes "fan out".  Kind of like Maybelline's Falsies Flared.  

So far as that goes, it does. If you hold and extend the brush, you can even get a more dramatic effect than what I've shown here. My problem was I had to hold the brush with my left hand to get a good result with my left eye. Physically its a bit challenging for me, and I always hold the brush with my right hand when I do my left eye anyway.

I didn't get any smudging or flaking, and actually my lashes held the fanned out shape all day. It was also easy to wash off. But I was on the fence about this mascara from the very beginning, and ultimately decided I don't care for it. It wasn't very volumizing, and it might be psychosomatic but I felt it was a bit irritating/itchy. The brush thing didn't win me over either. However, if fanned out lashes appeal to you, I honestly don't know how to get a better effect than with this.

Bundle Monster Previews

Im really on the fence about these... There's only three that I like so far, and only one or two images on those. I had different expectations considering they are from people and not their design team.

What do you guys think so far?

Gosh Mineral Eyeshadow Sticks

These are 002 Golden Brown and 010 Green (a golden olive green). They are waterproof as claimed, and awesome for a quick look or when traveling. I didn't have any issues using them with other powder shadows, although they dont really blend into, just with, if that makes sense. I wish I would have bought more of them!

Rimmel Blush: Pink Rose

This is Rimmel blush 120, Pink Rose. I'd describe it as a neutral, pretty peach-rose tone. I actually prefer light blushes like this, but it is buildable as well.

Surprise Lip Balm & More Haul

A friend recently asked me if I wanted her to get me anything from Marks & Spencer, a popular store in the UK and parts of Europe. Sure, but I didn't know what, so this is what she sent:

Super cute!  Lip balms, a really amazing smelling royal jelly and honey hand cream, an eyeliner and a nail polish.  I really love the color of the eyeliner:

Have any of you gotten any surprises lately?? 

Born Pretty Store: Texture Polish

The photo isn't great, nor are my natural nails at the moment I admit, but I just wanted to show their texture polish. I got #14, and it works just fine!

Barry M Dazzle Dust: 102

This is such a gorgeous shade- a sparkly blackened burgundy/purple.

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

This is probably the best eye primer I've ever tried... Seriously, it beats Urban Decay, Too Faced, and anything in between. It stays until you take it off (I even had to use oil based remover), it intensifies the shadows, it's smooth and invisible- everything you want in a primer. It even worked great for me with loose shadows and pigments.

I always do swatches without primer, but here is Burberry Antique Rose just to show the difference: 

I totally recommend this primer, it's amazing!!! 

Polish Hauls

Every time I saw this Sally Hansen Tahitian Sunset I wanted to get it, but I never did cause I'm weird and don't like buying only one bottle of polish. No problem buying only one of anything else, or just two polishes, I don't know why.

This is Essence Modern Romance (pretty but ugghhh!!), Sally Hansen Tahitian Sunset, Bandage, Pedal to the Medal, and Maybelline Pink Shock (so neon!).

I'm so excited I can finally really clean my nail plates! At a different place, I got this huge bottle of acetone, Nail Envy (glad to see that again!), Honey Ryder liquid sand and two others that were marked down. I'm glad I tried liquid sand again, I like this one a lot more than the first one I got.

My goal is no more polishes for three months... I think I can do it!

Avon Mega Effects "Wonderbrush" Mascara

I haven't bought anything from Avon in many years, the last time I remember was when they opened an actual Avon store somewhere and I got some bath and body stuff....do they still have Avon stores around?

When I saw this mascara I had to get it right away, it just looked too awesomely different not to try. I've used Givenchy Phenomen'eyes and similar mascaras in the past, so I didn't think being able to use mascara carefully would be a problem for me.

I wish they would have invented this sooner.

It turns out for me, I don't even have to use it carefully, it seems completely natural. You just have to push it up, root to tip, and it works awesome. On my left eye, I hold the wand with the handle upwards, it's easier that way for me. It took me a bit of practice, but I was even able to get my teensiest lashes.

My results:

From another angle you can really see:

I love, love, love this mascara!!  The brush is amazing, but I've even used it with a mascara fan brush (super easy, since the brush is so thin, just insert into the mascara part) and it's volume, length, really great.  I always show mascara swatches without eye makeup so it's easier to see, but I normally wear it, so it's easy to cover the few mistakes you see here, which was in the beginning of me using it anyway.  

It's really black, as you may know my lashes are light brown so this is a huge difference.  I also found it really long wearing, without any flakes at all.  The brush itself basically prevents any clumps as you apply, and I don't get any throughout the wear either.  Overall, it's a fabulous product I'd totally recommend!  

Pros:  Black, long-lasting, smudgeproof, lengthens, gets tiny lashes, easy to use

Cons: Brush is not typical (for me this is a Pro!), I have used mascaras that offer more volume, I don't think I can attest to any curling capabilities.  

Will you try it???  Let me know!! 

Shoe Outlet Haul

I haven't been to any outlet place in forever.... I don't know how long any of these will last but I thought they were cute, and I finally found neon flats.

Gosh Let's Twist Eyeliner: Hot Flamingo

I usually dislike twist up pencils, but this color was too awesome! I bought it so long ago, I remember it was one of my last minute purchases (I didnt know they sell this brand here now) so I packed and forgot about it. In fact, it was still in the shopping bag along with a bunch of other products I'll be using and reviewing before I try to work on anything else.

It really reminds me of Urban Decay's Fishnet eyeshadow- I don't have it anymore, although now I wish I did...maybe this is a little less purple??

It's a waterproof eyeliner, and it really is. I didn't have any problems with it, but for me it's only useable on my upper lash line.

Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush

I was looking for some new face brushes- keeping in mind that all of mine (except for foundation ones) make me want to gag, I did not want to get more natural ones. I was skeptical about synthetic brushes especially of this size, but I really wish I would have bought a brush like this sooner. I have used it for pressed and mostly, loose powder and have absolutely no issues with it picking up. I don't know that it's a hard rule that synthetics are better for creams; I think it depends on the type of brush, the density, quality of fibers, etc. I have some natural brushes that don't pick powder as well as this one, for sure. I like (love) the softness of this brush but I also noticed that just because its synthetic doesn't mean it's free of scent. This one does smell like a teddy bear, whether that's great or not, well...that's probably an individual preference. It doesn't bother me to a real extent, but I think my best option is to um...quit sniffing brushes lol!

The density of this brush is awesome, it dispenses the right amount of product although I do sometimes have to tap excess off. I wish it had a feature like Hakuhodo's slide face brush, where I could click it closed partway, because if you use just the top part, you get a more intense application- but it's hard to pinch in place while using it!

I like being able to use this as a travel brush, but the metal is a bit thin so I'm not sure how it will hold up over time. I've had mine for a few months (is it just me or did September get here really fast?!) and I haven't had any fibers fall out or come loose whatsoever. However, it does feel fluffier now than when I first got it. It also washes and dries very well. I would like to try more Too Faced brushes in the future; I think this one is great.

Havana Lip Swatches and a Lip Brush

These are very quick lip swatches while I had decent lighting, plus one from who knows what a.m. cause I'm having some bad insomnia lately.... and I'm still trying to work on how to deal with pictures on my iPad so please bear with me!

I am actually not 100% sure of the names of the corresponding shades either, so I'm posting the palette itself again. I did these in clockwise order, starting from the top left. If I am reading it correctly these should be: Rum, Cookie, Creme Brûlée, and Frappucino. The bottom left (Creme Brûlée?) was the darkest and longest lasting, the lightest one is the slipperiest and shows lip lines, but I mixed it with the two other drier ones from the palette and it turned out nicer.

And here is the lip brush:  

It's a very inexpensive Missha lip brush, but I really like it, the fibres are smooth and easy to clean.  It is a two piece push type, the brush pushes out with the cap.  Ok, basic, but I like it, it's very convenient, and it stays really clean!