New make up bag!

Pink with Hello Kitty of course! I retired my large MAC softsac and ordered myself this pretty traincase. This was part of the Hello Kitty for MAC launch and it is LIMITED EDITION so if you snagged one, then you're a lucky gal like me!


How could you not love her? Even though she's a cat with no mouth, I love her.


Everything fits nice and neat in this traincase.


And the best part is that there are DIVIDERS. I'm stoked about having compartments. :D I'm an easy pleaser. And look at the magenta lining. Loves!

Friday FOTD - Nice & Easy

No, not referring to Clairol, but to my make up for today. My kit has pretty much stayed the same, but wait until you see the upgraded bag. That will be the next post. ;) I have been keeping my face pretty bare lately and only do it up when I head out. I picked up a few new goodies last week and will hopefully have some other FOTD/EOTDs to share!

Face:
L'oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Concealer in Light under & around the eye area
Garden Botanika Natural Balance Powder Foundation in Caramel
Stila cheek color from the Blanc palette

Eyes:
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Stila Blanc palette -
-Sand eyeshadow all over lid
-Gold eyeshadow in the crease
-Olive eyeshadow in the outer-v/contour
3x coats Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara *hearts!*

Lips:
Hello Kitty for MAC Lipglass in Mimmy *heart hearts!*


Hello Friday! Where is the sun though? That would make today even better! Sporting a sunny colored sweater to make up for the lack of rays.


Eye open & loving the results from this mascara! I guess I'll do a mini-review right now. I picked this mascara up at Targhey for $6 awhile back. I like the original Define-A-Lash and consider that one of my HG mascaras. Well, move on over because this one volumizes! I like the how the wand separates and still distributes the mascara over your lashes to add some oomph! This is definitely a repurchase for when I'm feelin' too poo to buy the good ish. Ehh, just shows that you can buy cheap and get great results and some of you already know that I am a firm believer in using both cheap and steep products. Use what you love!


And with the eye closed. The flash washes out the color here and I really couldn't capture the beautiful gold and olive shadow with the horrible lighting here. Check out those lashes though!


A little better without the flash, but its quite dim.


*swack!* My cousin in Maui said I have chocho lips. Haha! I like having kissable lips. ;)


And without the flash. Once again I couldn't capture the true beauty in this color. Its a gorgeous shade of pink with flecks of pink and of course its LIMITED EDITION. *sigh* Well, knowing MAC, I'm sure they will repromote this color at another time. I should have bought more, but I already went over my limit when HK for MAC came out. Just a tidbit Mimmy is Hello Kitty's Sissy. Haha! Ok, random fact for those of you that aren't obsessed with HK like I am. Ridiculous.

On a side note, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Never take anything in your life for granted. Do what you love and don't be afraid to try new things. There are 2 things that I think you can never have too much of in this world - Love and Knowledge. One.

Smashbox Lip Paint - Artiste

I really, really wanted Smashbox's Muse Lip Paint in Artiste, but everywhere I went, they were sold out! Boo! Back in February when I was in LA, I managed to find it while shopping at Irvine Spectrum! Planet Beauty had a great selection of higher end cosmetics and hair care products. I walked away with my Muse and some lashes that I managed to mangle that night. Let's just say I slept with them on. I won't disclose any other details. Hahah!

From http://www.smashbox.com/
Artiste is the middle tube. Love, love, love! I wasn't too fond of the other shades since they were particularly light.






I love how the tube is a soft squeezable tube with a doe foot applicator. I think I would have liked a brush applicator better, but I was stoked with the squeeze tube! I can get every bit of product out of this without trying to unsuccessfully scrape the tube. I actually squeeze a bit of product up and swipe it up with the applicator.


The texture has a nice slip and is a bit thick, but not overly sticky like Lipglass can be. The swatch here shows it to be a bit more ruddy, but it is actually a mauve with gold flecks.


I look tired, but at least my lipgloss is pretty! Its a very natural color on me and I love it! I hope Smashbox takes note and creates more lipglosses like this - color, texture and the PACKAGING! Overall, I give this gloss an A++. I like it that much! :)

Make Up Diet - FAIL!

I just can't. I happened to be up north and decided I deserved a trip to The Cosmetics Company Store in Marysville, WA. Haha...deserved eh? Right! Well, I am supposed to be on a make up diet and an excessive shopping diet, but I am sick and was in a foul mood, so I needed to cheer myself up right? Hahaha! I spent about 15 minutes in the store and spent $120. Then I left, without even bothering going into any of the other stores I love up there. JUICY! Haha! So there you go. Make Up Diet Failure to add to the list next to excessive shopper. I'll show you my loot in a bit - the camera is charging.

e.l.f. Translucent Matifying Powder

This was my first ELF Studio purchase a couple months back and I have to say this was a great pick! From the website, "Achieve even flawless skin that’s smoother, redefined and shine free. This translucent powder workson a wide variety of skin tones to help set your makeup in so it lasts longer. The silky lightweight formula also miraculously mattes skin to diminish oil and shine for a beautiful and healthy look!"




Very reminiscent of NARS compacts. I actually keep this compact in my car for those quick touch ups before heading to a work meeting or on my way out.


The color is fairly light and works well with my skintone right now. I don't know if this would work when I have my tan on during the summer, but we'll see! Overall, I like this product. My only gripe is the sponge. Bacteria city! I wish they would sell replacement sponges that fit in here. Does anyone know if any other brand fits?

One weird tidbit about me. I can't wash latex cosmetic sponges and reuse them on my face. Its not about a hygiene phobia, its more of an allergic reaction! I found out a few years ago that I would break out into a rash if I washed the MAC sponge in my Studio Fix. O_o Yes...strange. Ok EOM.

FOTD - Recessionista Rhondalei

I am a firm believer in having both cheap and steep make up. While I do prefer some of the higher end brands based on wear, color pay off and texture, I do love my cheapies like ELF. This past Christmas, I gave some of my gfs goodie bags with some of my favorite things that included ELF lippies. Rumor has it that Nordstrom has acquired the brand and will be repackaging as a Nordstrom brand. Don't hold me to that since I haven't done any thorough research. I'm just sayin'. :p

This is what I bring to work on a normal basis. Large MAC softsac filled with make up. This isn't very convenient to tote around, but I use a backpack to work and this manages to fit in there along with my laptop and balon.



This is the Recessionista to-go make up bag. I wanted to create something small, light and with products that are office appropriate. No loud, bright colors which I love, but I just can't walk into a meeting with bright fuschia lipgloss poppin!

I managed to cram all of this product into that bag! All these products and the bag are ELF. The only items that weren't ELF that I used was my MAC Browshader in Soft Charcoal/Maple and 266SE brush for my brows. All of ELF is affordable starting at $1 for most products. I couldn't help but order A LOT of make up since it was such a good deal!

Face:
Tone Correcting Concealer in Light
Sheilding Hydro-Tint SPF15 in Tone 1 & Tone 2 (mixed to match)
Clarifying Pressed Powder in Tone 1 & Tone 2 (mixed to match)
Natural Radiance Blush in Glow
Shimmering Facial Whip in Citrus (used as highlighter on cheeks and above brow bone)

Eyes:
Brightening Eye Color Quad in Butternut
Brightening Eye Liner in Coffee
Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara
MAC Browshader in Charcoal/Soft Maple

Lips:
Therapeutic Conditioning Balm in Blackberry Creme
Featherproof Moisturizing Lip Liner in Spice
Plumping Lip Glaze in Oasis

Me bare faced with just eyecream and moisturizer on. This is how I usually roll into work. I close my office door and do my make up while checking email. Haha! My manager once came in and said, "What's going on here? What's all of this? Do you not have a home?" She was just joking...thankfully. I make sure my office door is shut! Maybe I should lock it too? See how young I really look?! Its a good thing, but I do need to look a bit more refined at work & maybe people will take me more seriously. :p



Me after with my Recessionista make over! Even skin with good color and a look that is polished. Proof that you don't need to spend a lot of money to look great! I know most of us gals are on budgets and need to find ways to beautify without breaking the bank. ELF cosmetics is a definite must in my book and I would love to order more stuff...as soon as my Lenten make up diet is over!

I'm thinking of creating more grab and go kits for different days. Like maybe a fun & flirty pink, daytime smokey eye and summery bronze/turquoise kit. What do you think?

Crockpot FOTD/EOTD Post

Its really time to start some new FOTDs! I haven't had the time or motivation to do any lately, but soon. I'm looking at my Beauty Review To Do picture folder and noticed I had a few FOTDs I did a few months back. I won't go into any details of how I achieved the look because 1) I can't remember exactly everything I used and I still have stuff packed and 2) I'm lazy. :p You'll see pictures close up of the eyes and lips and at the end have a picture of the products I used. Let me know if you have any questions!

Pretty Bare






Smokey Silver Wash





Light and easy neutrals






AHS Green & Gold!




Gash and Perky

Another ehh make up product - Benefit Georgia

I was super excited to finally own a Benefit Blush! I chose Georgia because I wanted a peachier blush rather than a pinky one. Which I tend to gravitate towards.


Definitely pretty in the package, but unfortunately, too light for my skin. Even with my fair complexion right now.


I would still want a Benefit blush, so I think I will be returning this one and exchanging it for Coralista. What do you think? Good or bad experience with Benefit blushes/bronzers?

Lipbalm Grading F: Blistex Deep Renewal

I rarely give products an F. I may dislike some things about a product, but hardly ever just absolutely hate something. Well, I managed to find one!


Blistex Deep Renewal. This lip treatment is supposed to visibly reduce deep & fine lines, improve lip health and vitality, moisturize, protect & renew.

This does have sunscreen in it, which is a plus.

Here is more of a rundown they give you on the back of the packaging regarding some of the ingredients and the benefits.

Hmmmm....I don't think so.

And now my gripe for this product. I actually had this lip balm for a few months and I'm glad I waited to do a review until now. I kept this in my desk to use at work. Well, I found out that this balm does nothing more for me than dry my lips out! I felt no renewal at all, well unless you consider molting lips "renewal," I would rather deflake my lips before going TO work, not AT work. There is something about Blistex products that kind of gets to me. I don't know if its the taste or what, but there is something weird that just doesn't settle well with me. Well, this ended up in the trash. Has anyone else tried this lip balm and had great results? I think I will just stick to my Soft Lips and Natural Ice Lip Balms that never fail me.