2013 Makeup Gifts

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This is a follow-up to the 2013 Makeup Pickups post.  I guess you could call these my “cheating” pickups.”  My birthday was in February, so in order to get around my ban, I asked for makeup for presents.  Because, duh.

2013makeupgifts

 

I didn’t get too many new things, right? >.>

Krystal got me Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy, which I’ve been wanting since forever.  I’m really really glad I asked for it too, even if it was cheating.  I love this blush and I’ve used it quite a bit since I got it.

Jackie got me all the Urban Decay stuff.  Both urbandecay.com and allcosmeticswholesale.com were having pretty sweet sales on the UD stuff, and she was already going to pick up a few things for herself, so I asked for a few for me.  Jumped through that loophole like nobody’s business!

She got me the cream shadow in Suburbia, the eyeshadow in Woodstock, and the Stardust eyeshadows in Moon Spoon and Diamond Dog.  Unlike Tipsy, I can’t say I’ve used these much.  I haven’t even touched Woodstock, other than swatching it.  Still, I like them all because they’re still “new” to me, and I’m determined to use them eventually!

Swatches to come!

This concludes all my makeup pickups this year.  I’ve also gotten a fair number of brushes as well, but I’m not counting them because they don’t expire the way makeup products do.  I’ll do a few posts on my new brushes too.  Found some new loves!

What have you picked up recently?  Loving it?  Regretting it?

Away We Go: Finding love on London’s Millenium Bridge

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love on millenium bridge

 

London’s Millenium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge spanning the Thames River, with the Tate Modern on the south bank and St. Paul’s Cathedral on the north bank.  Albert’s office is pretty close to it, so after work sometimes we’d walk across it and enjoy the unusually mild weather.

One day while crossing it, I saw this lock with a heart drawn on it and I thought it was cute.  Apparently it’s a thing to leave locks on the railings, because the next time I crossed the bridge there were tons more that I hadn’t noticed before, but this one in particular was gone.

Swatches: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer and Overshadows (Work is Overrated and No Money, No Honey)

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Heyyy, so remember how I was supposed to go through all that I’ve bought in 2013 and post swatches of them?  Well, here’s the last of them, from Hautelook’s theBalm sale ages ago.

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theBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer.  This is a nice highlight powder that I didn’t actually end up counting as a “purchase I need to cancel out” because I don’t have any other highlighters… or so I thought.  I forgot about Too Faced’s Snow Bunny, which is labeled as a “winter bronzer” but works nicely as a highlighter as well.  Whatever, it doesn’t hurt to have two.

Anyway, in the above swatches, the left is one swipe and the right is blended out.  This is pretty pigmented and frosty, so a light touch is needed.  It’s also really powdery.  I swirled too vigorously with my brush one day and it kicked up way too much powder.

I’ve been using it for the past few months whenever I do my makeup, and I like the effect.  In my opinion, highlighters aren’t a “must-have” (especially since I live in Hawaii and therefore have a tendency to get shiny halfway through the day) but when I do use them, the difference is noticeable, yet subtle.

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theBalm’s Overshadows in Work is Overrated and No Money, No Honey.  The  two loose shadows that I bought on impulse.  I think I’ve used them maybe once each since I got them in February.  Haha.

Incidentally, theBalm was on Hautelook again recently, and I was tempted to buy the other two Overshadows just so I could “complete the collection.”  I refrained this time, though!  I really don’t need another eyeshadow, loose or pressed, for the rest of my life.

In other news, I’m trying out a new format for my product swatches.  I’m using PicFrame and adding a bit of text.  Still fudging with it as I go along.  What do you guys think?  Any tips or suggestions?

April 2013 empties

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Okay.  I know I’ve been MIA for quite some time now.  Since I’ve been back, I’ve hardly been on my computer (surprising, I know).  I’m in the process of rearranging my desk in the living room, so things are a bit chaotic right now.  It’s still not done.

Also, I came down with a particularly nasty cold last night.  Body aches, fever, sore throat.  Way to take the wind out of my sails, immune system.

Anyway, I wanted to post this for ages before it became time for May’s empties, because uhh… yeah, April was a long time ago.  Whoops.

april2013 empties

Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel – I finished the “Pre-Whitening Rinse” last month and I decided to be honest with myself, because I won’t use this now that the rinse is gone.  Not that I really believe you NEED to use the rinse beforehand, but it just gives me less of a reason to use it.  I don’t like using it in the first place; it feels gross.

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil – This was a sample from Sephora that I finished up so I could use it to decant some body oil to take with me to London.  I really liked this cleanser.  I’ll admit, I was skeptical about it at first because it’s an oil, but my face felt clean and nicely moisturized after I used it.  It also smells nice.  I haven’t checked the price of a full sized bottle, though, and it’s probably out of my price range right now.  Oh well.

China Glaze black crackle polish – I think the official name is Black Mesh or something, but I already threw the bottle away, so there’s no knowing!  It got thick and goopy and I did pour nail polish thinner to revive it, but I’m over the crackle trend.  Goodbye.

Lancome Rénergie Eye Multiple Action – This was supposed to be a “veil” of SPF and light coverage for your eye area after the eye cream.  There was a lot of it, and as a concealer, I didn’t like using it.  It was a sample, so I don’t feel bad about throwing it away.  I’ve actually finished up the eye cream too, but it was in the month of May.

Michael Kors EDP – The last of the teeny tiny perfume samples!  I liked this one, I think.  Not enough to buy a full sized one, but it was nice.  I’m horrible at this mini review thing, sorry.

NOT PICTURED:

Urban Decay primer potion in Greed (mini) – I gave this to my sister.

Smashbox crease brush – Gave this to Krystal.

Make Up For Ever eye makeup remover (mini) – The blue one.  It was pretty good, actually.  It came in a MUFE set that I bought a few years ago.  I don’t have a picture of it because the bottle was made of hard plastic, and one day while trying to squeeze it, it EXPLODED IN MY FACE.  So I had to decant the rest into a travel jar.

L’Oreal VIP Status, Sephora by OPI I’m With Brad (2 nail polishes) – Gave to my sister.

Cargo Hands of Hope palette (9) – Gave to my sister.  This was actually her Christmas present to me one year.  It would seem that I have a habit of giving presents back to people, but it’s not because I’m ungrateful, I swear!  It’s that I thought I wanted/needed it, and now I realize that I don’t, so if someone else (that happens to be the person who gave it to me) has a use of it, then all for the better.  Right?

April’s count:
Full size: 14
Travel size: 3
Sample size: 2

Year-to-date:
Full size: 42
Travel size: 18
Sample size: 14

Okay, feeling crappy now.  Less whining, more sleeping!

 

I’m back!

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I got back to Hawaii on Tuesday (which felt like the longest day ever because I was traveling back in time zones).  I’m glad to be home, but it really sucks that Albert and I are once again 7000+ miles away from each other.  This time, we won’t be able to be together until October.  Boo. :(

It’s going to take me awhile to get back into the swing of things.  When I left, my desk was a huge disaster, and it’s only gotten a little better since then.

I’ll start posting again soon.  How have you guys been?

OMG, Hautelook. Stop it, you saucy minx.

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One of the down sides of going off the grid for a few days is that I haven’t been keeping up with sales!  Apparently there are some major deals going around that I’ve been blissfully unaware of!

I checked Hautelook this morning on my phone, and I literally sat up in bed in excitement when I saw what was on sale:

B. Makowsky handbags.  I have one, and so does my sister.  They’re beautifully designed bags with lots of pockets!  However, mine is really heavy and big, so I’ve stopped using it.  There are a few that pique my interest, like the Studded Leather Satchel and the Triple Zip Small Leather Satchel.  In black, plskthx.

Tarte.  I love Tarte!  I love their brand ethics (natural ingredients and cruelty-free), and they have really great products.  My favorite lately has been their Amazonian Clay bronzer in Park Avenue Princess, but unfortunately the travel size set that was on sale is now sold out.

I have an inkling that Hautelook is having all these awesome sales because they’re offering free shipping until May 8th.  So, in theory, you could order something today, and if you see something you want tomorrow, you could order it as well, without feeling annoyed about paying for shipping twice.  You sneaky devil, you!

However, I’m pretty strapped for cash.  Right now I’m surviving through the kindness of my boyfriend who doesn’t like to see me starve or sleep on the streets, so he buys me food and lets me share his bed for free. :P  So, thank you Albert, and no shopping for me!

My personal invite link to Hautelook.

On holiday in sunny (no, really) London

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I did that thing again where I let love and impulsivity win over prudence and good sense. I extended my trip, this time by another week. I won’t be back in the States until April 30th.

Albert’s family will be here at the end of the week, and he managed to a get a few days off from work while they’re here. Yay, more Albert!

I probably won’t post much until I get home. I’m amazed that I still have readers and followers when I update so infrequently and go on hiatus like, all the time. Thanks for that, it really means a lot. :)