Collection| Swap Star

After a month of solid dedication to swapping, I've managed to amass a few select staples, in sizable chunks, with the intention of taking my makeup stash to the grave in mind. Here is my cosmetics collection after swap (sounds like it goes with frizzy hair, a cigarette, and a balcony view to Paris, jeez) with a nod to the creme de la creme of what I've bargained, pleaded, whined, interrogated, and negotiated for.

Behold, my new couch! From general  order of guess and check and common sense:

Urban Decay All Nighter XL setting spray. While greatly revered by many others, I've yet to try a finish/setting spray that wasn't completely a gimmick of a water and "essential oil" turd grease droplet mixture (AHEM FIX+). This spray prolongs my foundation wear time from decent (8 hours) to deceptive (10 hours) without the powdery look of well, powder.

A quality finishing and setting powder to use for the undereye area and overall to give a slight healthy glow with no shimmer. I'm talking about Nars Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder. This sucker will probably last a lifetime.

A few foundations in NC20-NC25. Hopefully this LA sun will go away for about 2 months or so, at the least. I have finally gotten my hands on  MUFE's Face and Body foundation in #32 which is turning out to be amazingly lightweight and versatile.

Several blushes that will last me a generation. I've got MAC's Warm Soul and Happy Together on the way, but for now Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface and Natural Beauty have found their way back into my stash. I remember these were the first items I've ever swapped for way back when, and I miss their excellent staying power.

I've also managed to collect three brand spankin' new palettes, all neutrals! TheBalm Nude Tude, Bobbi Brown Navy and Nude, as well as BB's Ultra Nude Eye palette now sit pretty with the rest of my "boring eye" palettes.

Oh, did I mention that I'm currently on a quest to hoard cologne/perfume and bath myself in them to preserve my youth and increase my attraction pheromones, much like drinking sacrificial virgin blood inside of a moonlit pyre? No, not really. I don't have pictures because they've yet to arrive, but I've managed to find:

• Citron de Vigne/ Zesty.


• Versace Crystal Noir/Sexy Hooker.


• DKNY Be Delicious/Love Poetry Writing Teenybopper.


• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist/Elegant Grandma.


• Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue/Buff Shirtless Italian.


• And rollerballs of Coach Poppy, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Chloe, and Lavanila Vanilla Grapefruit. I really enjoy these because they are so easy to carry around for touch ups and isn't a forearm workout to pick up and spritz. Also, does anyone understand how to defy laws of physics and carry a full sized bottle of perfume in your handbag at all times?

For now, my collection is completely restored. I've thrown out (aka given out extras) of products I haven't touched in 3 months or more, replenished my stash of blushers, added more neutral palettes while giving away bold ones, and downsized my foundation stash to just the best. That is to say....easily a third of my makeup stash comes from the swap world and I've pared everything down to either essentials, basic variations, backups, backups of backups, and a few drugstore dupes. Most of my drugstore items were also donated away. It really does help with the mental clutter when you have less to work with in front of you every morning.

The only downside is how many sample cards and packets I have....my samples bag looks like Carrie's prom night.

That's all for today, the job search is slogging through. I've been to at least 10 interviews now with terrible callback etiquette and no success. Must be the butch haircut giving lesbopunkrock vibes *EYE ROLL* Bye!

Be

Swap Haul| Priorities, Be. [Part One]

With a new-found interest in swapping my makeup for "essential items", I've neglected the voices in my head telling me to go shopping. With the post office a block away and the Internet at my disposal, I've picked up so much good stuff by swapping away makeup that's been sitting at the back of my drawer (or fridge) for ages.See? Told you I'm on a low-buy. Just a high swap :D I also have to validate it by deluding myself that post office stamps are not worth real money.

This post covers the first half of swap items that's arrived within this past two weeks. Most of these items are lemmings, rather than essentials. A lot of these items are those I've always wanted to try but don't have the funds to do so.

Ready for some serious eye candy?



 



In no particular order: NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Sandra and Wicked, Becca Loose Pigment in Odette, Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Taupe, Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Bronzer, Buxom lipgloss in Samantha, Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl and Watt's Up samples, Urban Decay Revolution lipstick sample in Catfight, NARS Albatross/Orgasm duo, Stila It Girl palette (for the iconic Kitten!), Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Perversion (backup number 4), Clinique Moisture Surge, The Balm's Frat Boy blush.

I don't mean to brag, but that is some seriously savvy swapping *pats self on back* At the same time I've managed to clear out all extra samples, try out new ones, hoard up on high end items, and stock up on skincare. I would have never been able to afford Kevyn Aucoin, but with a little fancy fingerwork and shameless swap list browsing, I've been able to find quite a few gems.

The only downside is that swapping isn't open to completely everybody on MakeupAlley.com I think you have to had been a member of their site prior to a certain date? Ah well. Exclusive makeup illuminati circle is exclusive. It does frighten me when someone asks to swap and I have to look through 30 pages of items. Crazy makeup lady, is that you??

Ah well, time to get back to job hunting. That's all for today, folks!

Be