Blog Sale| I'm having a blargh sail?!

Hello everyboday.

After two months of grueling hard work and hours wasted at the post office for online swapping, I've managed to pare it down to mostly essentials and some high end delights. However, I still have quite a lot of things that came from swap or my own stash that I'm not 110% in love with. A lot of these items are like new or lightly swatched, and of course, genuine. And sanitized. That would be important. I'd love to sell them off as easily as possible, so I've made a list of things I no longer need. I'll update this list by either adding new items, deleting sold items, or adding perks and extras. Shipping is a flat 4 dollars for me (if you buy multiple items we can work out a deal) and is US only. I'm also trying to get rid of a lot of drugstore lip products, so you'll see a few surprises in your package too!

You can use Paypal and email me at minhvn29@gmail.com to inquire more about these items. Here goes nothing!

Makeup Forever La Boheme Palette, one shade swatched twice, rest is untouched. 39 retail. Asking 30. 

Urban Decay Glinda Palette, also comes with lip pencil (swatched once), purple shade used twice, all other shades lightly swatched/untouched. 49 Retail. 40 Asking. 

NARS eyeshadow duos in Sandra, Carmargue, and Wicked. Please look at pictures for conditions. All were received in swaps. Shadows are like new or lightly swatched. 34 retail each. Asking 25 for each, or 60 for all. 

  Sandra.

   Carmague.

  Wicked.

Tarte Natural Cheek Tint in Achiote. Received in swap, I swatched twice. 26 Retail. Asking 15.



Urban Decay Glide on Cheek Tint in Score. Lightly used. 24 retail. Asking 15. 



NARS blush duo in Albatross and Orgasm. Lightly swatched twice. Like new. There is a chip at the top right of the packaging, cosmetic flaw only.  41 retail. Asking 35. 



Stila It Girl Palette 2 (Eve, Kitten, Americano). Like new, each shade used once. 14 retail. Asking 7. 



Rock and Republic Saturate Eyeshadow in Carat. Used about 5 times total. No dips or dents. About 85% to 90% left. 15 retail. Asking 7. 



MAC Prolongwear blush in Stay By Me. Like new, swatched twice. 25 Retail. Asking 18. 

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Gloss in Samantha and Full on Lip cream in Berry Blast. Used 4x max. 22 retail. Asking 12 each.



Estee Lauder lipstick in Pink Parfait and a small Shiseido extra. Please see pics for condition. 26 Retail. Asking 12 for both. 



Marc Jacobs Woman EDP, 3.4 oz. About 95-98% left. No changes in scent, received as gift from aunt. 96 Retail. Asking 75. 



Well, that's all I have at the moment. Here is my swap list if you're interested and would like me to private message pictures.  Email me at minhvn29@gmail.com. Keep in mind that this isn't even a fourth of my swap list! D:

MAC Foundations

-Studio Sculpt NC20 (about 75%-80% left) this runs a little darker than a true NC20 imo, I used it when I was NC25 in everything else
-Studio Sculpt NC30 (about 75 to 80% left)
-Studio Fix Fluid NC30 (about 50% left) comes with pump but no lid.
- Mineralize Moisture NC30 (about 75% to 80% left)
- Face and Body C2 (about 50 to 60% left) (this comes in the huge pro size bottle)

Also....this problem:

Revlon	lip butters lot	Lipstick
The Body Shop	Strawberry Body Butter	Lotions/ Creams
NARS	Satin lip pencil Yu LN	Lipstick
MAC	Studio Fix C40	Powder
NYX	Soft Matte Lip Creams	Lipstick
NYX	Butter Glosses	Lip Gloss
Urban Decay	Primer Potion in Eden	Eye Primer

BeneFit Cosmetics	High Beam	Highlighters
Becca	Loose pigment in Odette	Eye Shadow
BeneFit Cosmetics	BN Hoola Bronzer	Bronzers
Rimmel	Stay Matte in Sandstorm BN	Blush
NARS	BNIB E/s duo in Isolde	Eye Shadow
BeneFit Cosmetics	Porefessional BNIB	Primer/ Corrector
LORAC	Pro to go LNIB	Palettes
Clarisonic	MIA	Misc Beauty Tools
Sigma	E05 eyeliner brushes 2x	Makeup Brushes
BeneFit Cosmetics	Watt's Up	Highlighters
E.L.F.	Glow Powder	Loose Powders
Lancome	Definicils BN	Mascara

Shiseido	Ultimate Sun Protection Cream+ Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ F	Sunscreen
Urban Decay	LN Mildew, Flipside	Eyeliner
Marc Jacobs	LN Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer lot	Polishes
Make Up For Ever	HD Blush #3	Blush
Becca	BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector LN	Blush
Vichy	Dermablend LN 35 Sand	Liquid
Revlon	Balm stains lot	Lip Liners
Urban Decay	LN Heavy Metal Eye Gel in backstage	Eye Shadow
Smashbox	Hydrating primer BN	Primer/ Corrector

 

BNIB: brand new in box, BN: brand new, lot means you should ask me about the colors, LN: like new, etc...

Hope you guys are enjoying your weekend!

Be

Collection| Drugstore Mascaras (Maybelline, L'oreal, Revlon)

As a common peasant suffering from Nolashatall syndrome (used to be Noassatall, but a healthy dose of squats took care of that...), I'm constantly on the look out for good mascaras. As the rule goes, mascara tubes harbor bacteria and biochemical weaponry faster than the speed of light, prompting you to throw them away every 3 to 4 months. That, or the formula dry out into oblivion and crust onto your lashes as easily as cornbread mix on a catfish filet.

Because of this, however, they are also relatively cheap at the drugstore and come in such a wide array of options that promise dazzling results. "Your lashes will be extended a million kilometers south!" "Lashes look as volumized as a spayed cat on a Fancy Feast diet!" And since so many mascaras get PR hype, it's very easy to get pulled in and pick up a few on your trip to the drugstore.

As for me, these mascaras will be decommissioned in another month or so, meaning I can explore other options or throw them out if I hate them! Here are a few that I've been using for the past 2 months and their results. I won't be including close ups of my eyeball, because camwhoring my face is hard enough. Keep in mind that I use either MAC's Cleanse Off Oil or Lancome Bi-Facils to remove all of these mascaras and have no problems with tugging or residue.

 

From top to bottom: Revlon Grow Luscious, Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express, L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express waterproof, and L'oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions (all are in the blackest formula available).

 

Revlon Grow Luscious is my go-to mascara when I don't want to deal with mascara or eyelashes in general. It gives a dark color to my lashes as well as a bit of length and a bit of volume. It does smudge slightly after a long day of wear. This is strangely my second tube, because it doesn't feel crispy on my lashes. It's easy to build because of such a wet formula, but I usually don't try to. Very basic contender.

Though hyped, The Rocket is also your average contender. It gives lashes a natural and somewhat longer look and doesn't feel too dry. It doesn't smudge, but it isn't extraordinary by any means. The large and hard bristled brush also means a higher risk of eye pokage if you're not careful. If you try to build up with this one, not much will happen except clumps.

Although I didn't have high hopes for L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, it is actually one of my favorites. I'm not a huge fan of volumizing mascaras because they tend to clump and give me spider leg lashes. This one is very unnatural (in a good way) and would probably look great with long lashed gals. On me, it gives a great impact due to the intense black color and thickening effect. It's also great layered over a drier/curling mascara. This one doesn't smudge, but I wouldn't say you can build any more after 2 coats.

The Falsies is my favorite of the bunch because of its smaller curved brush shape that reaches into the inner and outer corners and dark waterproof formula. There is absolutely no smudging or flaking, and it gives lashes a very dark and feathery look and does a surprisingly great job at lengthening as well. This one can be built up to 3 coats. For every day looks where I want to amp up the drama, I will always reach for this one. I will repurchase only this one once all of these dry up.

In an earlier blog post, I gave L'oreal's Telescopic Shocking Extensions glowing reviews for its ability to lengthen my lashes. It won't add much in volume and it definitely doesn't smudge, but contact lens wearers need to be weary of this one. After a few hours, its fibers will flake slightly...into your eyeballs. What joy. Layered over Urban Decay's Canonball, it is the BEST look for my lashes. Sadly, I can never wear it when I have contacts in simply because it is too irritating. The small wand means you can build to your heart's content and reach everywhere. Still, I may only repurchase to use on my bottom lashes.

I hope that helps you on your quest to find the holy grail mascara. In all honesty, mascara doesn't have to be a life changer if you already have longer or thicker lashes. As for me, finding the perfect mascara is still in my 5 year plan. I have found some great mascaras in the mid and high end price ranges, but it is a little ridiculous to pay such an amount of money every four months. It really becomes an investment rather than a staple. Since I'm not a huge fan of false lashes for every day, I usually neglect my lashes anyway.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Be

Review| L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush

Although I have picked up quite a haul from the drugstore, I think the most exciting item has to be Amber Rush, an absolutely beautiful and unnecessary eye shadow for the fall season.



Packaged in a glass container that has some good heft and not too much tackiness for my vanity, this eyeshadow is the strangest consistency I have ever seen in any formulation. When you push a packing brush into the pot, it feels almost like it's a densely packed loose shadow, as if a tiny lilliputian elephant jumped onto it until everything squished into a nice round brick of color. A stopper is included, but I threw it away. Tacky! Below is a swatch.

The actual color itself has been described as copper, a rose gold, the color of a penny, peachy-gold glimmer, MAC's Tan pigment dupe, reddish-bronze. I'm guessing it varies based on the color of your primer/eyelids and your complexion. On my olive coloring, it's a light rose gold that leans more peach than gold and more copper than bronze. It reminds me of UD's Chopper, but a little more peachy with the same shimmer/fine glitter dimension.

Above are swatches of Amber Rush (top) and Urban Decay's Chopper (bottom). 

It's quite unique, and the powder does not crease at all even if I am a little heavy handed. I picked it up at Rite Aid for $7.99 retail. For the drugstore price, this eyeshadow is the best I've ever tried. I do wish L'oreal released several colors in a palette similar to UD Naked, but that would probably drive up the price like crazy. It's a lovely color and the excellent quality means you should give this color a try, even if you won't be picking up any other color in this line.

That's all for today. I went shopping for a vape today (time to quit smoking for good!). How's your week going? I'm just glad the weather is getting overcast.

Be

Favorites | September 2013

Oh my gosh, it completely slipped my mind that September is over! I've been on a mini-vacay with the husband for this past week and haven't been on the computer 24/7. Speaking of ideal husband situations, he got me the new Vice 2 palette! I would do swatches but it hurts just looking at it. I told him that I would get a lot of usage out of it and "it would last for 10 decades", but I honestly just want to encase it in bulletproof glass and only purvey from the outside. 

September weather in the OC has been temperamental. My nose is beginning to flake from the drier weather, and with cooler temperatures comes the return of full fledged makeup. I'm talking medium to full coverage foundation, dolly cheeks, and long lashes since my hair is short (I recently gave myself an undercut, but that's another horror story) and my clothes are modest. Take a look at my favorites for the past month.

From left to right: Covergirl Outlast 3 in 1 foundation in 832 Nude Beige, Urban Decay Lip Primer, Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer in 002, Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Sandstorm, Benefit Watt's Up sample, NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder, TheBalm's FratBoy blush, Benefit's Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark, NYX Cream shadow in Suede , NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee, YSL's Rouge Volupte Nude Beige 001, L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara

Covergirl Outlast 3 in 1 foundation in 832 Nude Beige is like Revlon Colorstay's better looking sister. It's a very full coverage and long lasting foundation that will photoshop your face upon contact into flawlessness with no tell-tale caking. The only downside is the lack of strong yellow tones, and 832 is rather pale on me at the moment. The next yellow toned color is 842 Medium Beige, which is much too dark now that my tan is faded. I have to use a bronzer on the perimeter of my face, but this foundation is comparable to MAC's Studio Fix at a fraction of the price. 

Urban Decay Lip Primer is my new holy grail lip product. I have a review on the blog already, but it makes even the most dull and sheer lipsticks come to life and gain much opacity without drying out my lips. I put MAC's Sunny Seoul on top and it was much brighter and opaque than I was used to!

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer in 002 is a recent drugstore find that has encouraged me to use primer before foundation on a daily basis. For summer, a primer seems to suffocate my skin. In the wintertime however, this primer seems to provide a much smoother surface and blurs away any pores or expression lines on my face. The 002 shade is clear and doesn't feel particularly "silicone-y" and sets any base product I put on for the entire day. It isn't hydrating, but pairs well with any moisturizer underneath. I can also smear it onto my lids if I'm feeling too lazy for a separate eyeshadow primer. 

Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Sandstorm sets any makeup perfectly without imparting color and kept my T-zone mattified all day in the hot days of September. I dropped it the other day (mind you, I had been using for 6 months and hadn't even made a dent) and had to run out to the drugstore to pick up more. It's only 3 bucks and does an even better job than my MAC Studio Fix powder. Amazing drugstore product. 

Benefit Watt's Up sample is the perfect size for my everyday makeup bin, and its smaller bullet means I can glide it directly onto my cheekbones. It's absolutely beautiful and natural. 

NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder is a new item I received in a swap, and it's the best setting powder for undereye concealer (I've been experimenting with the Kardashian triangle of light) and gives my face a very healthy glow with no sheen or glimmer. It's really lovely for dry skinned gals who want a glow but still want their foundation to last. 

TheBalm's FratBoy blush has been my go-to blush for everyday looks. It has a tiny bit of sheen and gives my cheeks a healthy look, and I always get compliments from the husband when I wear it. Something about it is very understated and works with every type of makeup look, but it also stands out in its own way. The packaging is also adorable.

Benefit's Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark, in conjunction with my Anastasia Brow Wiz in ebony, has become my holy grail brow routine. My brows have never looked more defined yet natural and they last all day.  

NYX Cream shadow in Suede, another daily favorite, acts as a base and primer in one and is a lovely metallic sheen of gold that isn't overpowering or unnatural. I use it with a light wash of matte brown in the crease and outer V along with some black eyeliner and it completes an eye look. 

NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee is a nude gloss that's very moisturizing and thick without being sticky. It's nude, but won't wash out your lips and layers well with any lip look. It acts as a moisturizing balm in my book when I can't find a true lip balm. 

YSL's Rouge Volupte Nude Beige 001 is the high end equivalent of MAC's Creme Cup and is much more moisturizing while maintaining a high level of opacity. I love it with a simple cat-eye. Often I will put on Creme Cup in the morning and touch up with YSL. 

L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara is the product of my drugstore mascara vice. I love the packaging, and I've been meaning to try out some volumizing mascaras for that thick, almost spidery lashes look for winter. It really does thicken up my sad lashes, but I can't say much for its lengthening abilities. I like layering it over Definicils or another tubing mascara. 

That's all for my September items, and I've been using most of them into October. I love a full face of makeup for colder months, and now it seems like every YT tutorial is for plum/burgundy/dark lips. As much as I love the trend, I'm more excited to try the other fall trends out there, like a light grey wash of color on the lids and matte skin with no blush. So tell me, are you one to go for makeup trends or do you think trends are best left for fashion? Let me know :)

Be

First Look| L'oreal Le Matte and La Laque.

I finally have ventured outside of my 10 mile zone to another Target in search of these mystical lipsticks. And they are indeed mystical. I hadn't been able to find them for the past few weeks, even though it's been out for at least two months now. Such is the life of limited edition items; they get clamored over by crazy makeup enthusiasts and disappear, never to come back.

Ah, but I've finally found them. Here are some swatches and pictures for your enjoyment. You may live vicariously through me.

From left to right: 414 I Lacque You A Lot, 413 Lacque-onic, 409 Matte for Me. Below, the order is reversed.

 

Matte for me is a blue based pink, in the same family as MAC's Girl About Town/Crosswires/Impassioned.

Lacque-onic is my favorite, a true red with a shine. 

I Lacque You A Lot is an orange-red that seems similar to MAC's Lady Danger with a shine. 

None of the colors are particularly wearable for every day (work/school) unless you're the adventurous type, but they are beautiful nonetheless. They remind me of NARS' matte and satin lip pencils with a much lower price point, and dare I say they are much less drying? I'd love to pick up even more, but I received the matte shade in a swap and only found the other two at Target. Also, I believe they retail for about 8 to 10 dollars (if you can find them, try to buy a few just in case!)

All three shades are very opaque and pigmented, long wearing, and not prone to bleeding or drying. The matte shade applies like a satin and dries down to a matte and wore down to a light stain after three hours. The La Laques are a little more prone to feathering if not laid on top of a liner, but they do not slide around.

The only downside is that they smell rather outdated and "drugstore", which is a given. I really hope that these are just L'oreal's way of testing the waters before jumping in with a more extensive collection.

Have you been able to find these at your local drugstore or Target? I think most people are having good luck with Target. Let me know what you think!

Be

Review| Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion

We all know that Urban Decay is a cosmetic powerhouse when it comes to eyeshadows, lipsticks, setting sprays, (okay everything), but they also take the cake when it comes to primers. I stock up on their eye shadow primer every chance I get and have never wandered elsewhere. Of course, I should have known better that they would have a primer for lips. If you want your eyeshadow and foundation to look flawless all day, why not your lips?

Well, duh. They've already thought of that. It's called the Lip Primer Potion. Urban Decay claims, "This invisible primer lays a silky foundation for your favorite lipstick or gloss. Color is truer, applies smoother, lasts longer, and will not feather!" It retails for $20 and contains moisturizing Vitamins A, E, and C as well as SPF 15. It has no color payoff and the worst it will do is let your lipsticks apply true to color.



Bold claims, considering how most lipsticks fade unevenly on my lips and leave them looking drier and crustier than a teenage boy's quilt blanket. Disgusting. Even the creamiest lipsticks tend to fade much quicker than intended, even with flawless prep work and Satanic prayer. It's also the reason why red lips haven't become my signature look and fuchsia lipsticks only venture out in the evening. Like, two hours max before I rush home and furiously scrub my lip flakes.

Well, I have to say that this is the best swap investment I've ever made. Take a look at my test run schedule this morning:

• 8:00 AM- Wearily eye bold lipstick stash and wonder when I'll ever use them up. Notice the lip primer in the corner. Test time! I apply it over bare lips (I applied balm in the bathroom), line with MAC's More to love lipliner, and apply UD's Bang lipstick haphazardly within the general mouth area. Wink at sexy clown looking back at me in the mirror.


• 11:30 AM- Head out the house to run errands and get Starbucks. Order a tall iced coffee and their new Spinach croissant. Noms. Immediately look in mirror. The glossy top layer of the lipstick is gone, but the original color is still on! And even! The color is not as "satiny" but is a lovely matte.


• 1:00 PM- First vape of the day. Check in bathroom mirror, color is still there!? Lips feel a little tight, but no noticeable flakes are coming out. I apply NYX's Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee. Usually this starts an awful cycle of peeling and reapplication that cannot be remedied.


• Now (2:00 PM)- Lip line is not as precise as in the morning, but nothing is bleeding outside of the lines, even with gloss. Color is just as vibrant as in the morning and the faint gloss added back the sheen I wanted. No flakes! Woohoo!

I am in love with this lip primer, considering how I've never seen this at Sephora before. I've always thought that lip primers are over-glorified lip balms, but this is the bomb. The formulation feels like a heavy wax based lip balm and takes a bit of elbow grease to apply, but the end result is so worth it. I would rather wear this under every lipstick and take an extra minute in my routine than have to constantly check my mirror in paranoia. Where has this been all my life??

Well, I have another interview tomorrow, and the hubs has finally found work within Orange County. Happy day! I'll be rocking my red-orange lip look into tonight's celebration dinner.

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