Project "Kill It"/10 Pan

Well hello Angel Faces! Long time no see!

I'm sorry I've been such a delinquent about my posting and basically abandoning the blog for school - but I promise I haven't forgotten it! I do check up on my favorite blogs nearly daily, but I just never have time for my own (writing posts is much more strenuous than reading them)!

It's 2013 and a whole new year with new beginning, and I'm kicking it off with a Project 10 Pan! (If you do not know what a P10P is, check it out here.) Now I really don't like reading up on just skincare, skincare, and more skincare (neither do I have a care for hair), so this will be very makeup and polish based. The only non-cosmetic products I have here are makeup remover and lip balm. And yes, five of them are minis/GWPs, but hey, still makeup!

The ten contestants are:

1. Clinique Chubby Stick in Mega Melon (GWP) [N/A]

2. Clinique Quad (highlight shade) (GWP) [0.02OZ/0.5g]

3. Clinique Almost Powder [0.35OZ/10g]

4. TheBalm Balms Away makeup remover [2.2OZ/64g]

5. Stila lip glaze in Lights (part of set) [0.05OZ]

6. Sephora by OPI Sample Sale (mini) [0.125OZ]

7. SOPI Bare to Be Different (mini) [0.125OZ]

8. Urban Decay Afterglow Cheek Tint in Quickie (GWP) [0.02OZ/0.75g]

9. Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter [0.25OZ/7g]

10. Urban Decay Primer Potion (mini size) [3.7ml/0.13OZ]

(Shouldn't the eyeshadow and blush be the same measurement throughout? Huh...)

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The first product that I've ever "hit pan" on is this Chubby Stick in Mega Melon - which I find a bit too pink for my tastes, but beggars can't be choosers. I honestly can't remember when I got this, maybe October 2010? I'm still scraping out the product here (can you see all that's left?).

Next is Stila Lip Glaze in Lights, which is a champagne-ish color with glitter. I originally got it in a 12$ set, along with its sisters "Action" and "Camera" (one pinker and one berry-er, both with that obnoxious glitter). I'm going to try to finish those up after these 2.

This is the first eyeshadow I've ever hit pan on (although it's only 0.02 oz... shh). I've been using this every day for about five months, while it's already is so tiny, and only got this much through it! After P10P, I'm replacing it with Urban Decay Skimp from my Feminine Palette (2012 edition). You can see Skimp is more golden toned than the Clinique highlight, which I have no objection to (I'm very warm toned).

This powder was the main reason for me kickstarting the project, as I FINALLY got a powder from CCO to replace my Clinique one (the new one is by Origins). From the limited color selection I chose a very warm one that's slightly lighter than my old one, but it is winter and therefore my skin is lighter.

Here's an extremely crappy swatch (Origins on left, Clinique on right).

I got the Balms Away here, and I use it while using cleanser at night. You can see it's almost done, and after it is I'll transition back to Take the Day Off. I don't see a point in spending 20$ on something that only lasted 4~ months.

 I absolutely LOVE Sample Sale, but sadly it was LE and I didn't really discover it until it was discontinued. You can't tell from the pic, but the level of polish has reached so that I have to tip it to get any product. It covers so opaquely in just one quote and is such a classic red - I'm in love! But I already have these other three open, and I don't see a point in hunting for a dupe now with me already owning so much red. Ah well, maybe some day.

 Bare to be different is very bare, and very very sheer. It's basically a clear polish, nothing special. It's about at the same amount as Sample Sale. A True Romantic is also very sheer, so I see it as a contender as a replacement.

Quickie is very cool toned. AKA, it looks horrendous on me. I have to either use so little it's invisible, or pack on the powder afterward so I don't look like a 3 year old in her mommy's makeup. On the left is Estee Lauder Blush in (I wanna say) Radiant Kiss, which is discontinued.

 I was -very- </sarcasm> smart when buying my Naked palette, and thought that UDPP would never last long enough for me. Yeah, I'm smart. I bought the full size only after a month or two after I got the mini. I got to the point when I had to pull out the stopper so I hope it's almost at it's end so I can finally use my full size.

I have two Lip Therapies open (they are amazing). I just wanna finish one of them. I'm pretty good at using up lip balm though, so this won't be bad.

Farewell To Summer

Well, school has started. And along with that, I'll be auditioning for the school play. If I don't get in it, I'll be backstage. In all honesty, my main point is that I don't have time to keep this blog posted every weekday if I have school and rehearsal/practice and the typical high school stuff.

And my other point is that I'm in a blogger's writing block, and I need some time. I definitely want to do more homecoming looks, but blogging takes lots of time and energy I just won't have. I can't really come up with any individual looks, so I need some time to just make some colorful such and such and feel like it's good enough to put up on the internet.

I'll try to make posts at LEAST once a week, but for now, farewell.

Switch Up the Makeup

I know for school you shouldn't look like you are out clubbing, but I mean some girls keep the foundation-mascara-eyeliner-gloss routine everyday, all day. No matter it school, camp, prom, or party. Day after day looking the same, no change, no FUN! I mean break out that glitter liner for your friend's Sweet 16, or some eyeshadow for prom (NEVER overdone though). Just switch it up, you know what I mean?

Too much makeup?

Rocking dat teal eyeshadow.

One of the most common things I come across on Yahoo! Answers is the question "Do I wear too much makeup?" Well here's my answer: "It depends." Both of my eyes have 2 eyeshadows, eyeliner, mascara, and brow powder. Do you get how annoyed I'm getting here? When you say "I wear eyeliner" it can either mean a bit of upper tightlining, or good ol' raccoon right eye right there. Those questions piss me off so much.

NEW: Back to School Series!

It being August, school starts soon! (Cue sobbing) So probably the rest of my summer, I'll be posting some school-related makeup stuffs. Tutorials, mostly. And tips... yeah. Be ready!

Warning: Do NOT melt Urban Decay Shadow pencils!

 So I got this shadow pencil in delinquent (an absolutely gorgeous medium sparkly purple) as a GWP, and I decided that the pencil is too thick to use as a regular eyeliner. Assuming it was the same as a NYX Jumbo shadow pencil, I melted it with a blowdryer aaaand... this happened. 

 The pigment (sparkle part) separated from the binder (the grey part), so whenever I swipe my eyeliner brush in here nothing gets in the brush. I literally have to scrape the pigment off, ugh.

It may have to do with this synthetic wax...

What's in my purse (makeup edition)?

 To continue the bad phone photo posts, here's a What's in my Purse makeup edition. The bag is by Clinique in a GWP a few months back, and it's a little bigger than a credit card and 2 or so centimeters wide, very portable. And as you can see in the next picture, can hold a lot!

It may seem like a bit -much- but I can do a quick formal or everyday look with this in a flash! Clockwise, from top left, is a mini Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous (foundation), random Clinique quad in neutral tones, sample size Clinique lash doubling mascara, random Sephora eyeliner, Wet n Wild liquid eyeliner, travel size  Smashbox photo finish lid primer, sample size Urban Decay glide-on cheek tint, a random brush head I use for blending, and Hard Candy glamoflauge concealer pencil.

Birthday Haul 2012

I'm sorry for the crappy quality, I couldn't find the camera so I used my phone. I'll promise to try to find it soon! So my birthday was over vacation, I can qualify my free birthday gift, and I had around 90 points on my Sephora card. I didn't turn in my points cause there was nothing in the 100 point box that I wanted (no makeup, just skin care and hair stuff, eww) but I did choose out some stuff I've been stalking on the site. Oh, and I stopped by a MAC counter too. I'll be reviewing some (or all) of these some time or another, so my opinions on this post are more first impressions. Here we go!

 This is my FAVORITE nail polish of all time - SOPI Already Famous. I was over the moon when I found it, cause I thought it was Limited Edition from last Christmas! I don't have to preserve the little baby bottle anymore! This, described by Sephora.com, is a "sheer pewter with medium champagne and silver glitter." I'll definitely be raving over this soon, and I'll have to pick up a few backups!

 My next hauling item was Benefit's Tan About Town set, motivated by the fact that I don't own bronzer and I didn't have foundation at the moment (I had a formal event during vaycay too). I don't need another mascara though, but the entire set was only 12$! I like it so far, but the foundation melts too easily and the bronzer packaging is super flimsy. I might review this soon.

 Here's Sephora's birthday gift this year - a lip balm duo by Fresh. I've already sworn myself to Sweet Mint EOS, but these have a pleasant lemony scent. For 22$ I wouldn't buy a full size, but they're nice.

 I've always wanted a purple streak but didn't want to commit, so I picked up a hair extension in my favorite "Royal Violet" (by Sultra). I had to straighten it before wearing, because the packaging made for an awkward L shape. I love that this stays in and grabs onto my hair really well, put it's quite a thin strip for being so expensive. And I have a really big gripe with this - the color bleeds a LOT. When I washed some hair spray out of it, the water turned purple and the hair extension turned more pink-toned than blue-toned. And I HATE pink, which sorta pisses me off but ah well.

And here's my lone MAC item that I picked up on the way, a classic Blacktrack fluidline. My other black creme liner I bought last year so it's all dried up by now. As said earlier, I only have used each of these once, but the one time I have used it this eyeliner GLIDES on. I'll definitely be reviewing and comparing this soon!

Makeup for a Trip

So I'm leaving for 2 weeks for a few personal reasons. AKA VACATION!!! I'm not in anywhere fabulous, it's mostly indoors but ah well! I thought I'd share my makeup hoarding packing I've done for the trip. The bag is the same one from my "If I was a MUA" post (my first post!) and will have some of the same products. My next post is scheduled to published on the 23rd.

Here's the two sides of the bag - brushes/stick shaped liners, and the real "meat" of the bag... MAKEUP!

Here are my brushes - I know it's minimal but it'll do. From left to right, there's the Ecotools Lash/Brow Comb, MAC 219, MAC 217, Urban Decay Shadow Brush, Ecotools Angled Liner Brush, and Ecotools Angled Blush Brush (softest thing EVER!).

Here are the eyeliners... and not even all of them. I'm convincing myself that I don't have a problem. From left to right, there's a random pair of tweezers that I forgot in the last picture, Urban Decay Naked 24/7 Eyeliner Set (Zero, Demolition, Bourbon, Underground, and Stray Dog), Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Liner in perversion, Maybelline Expertwear eyeliner in Slate Gray, then Sephora Nano Eyeliner in Pure White

I'm bringing a minimal amount of face products - one of each. Left to right, top to bottom - Clinique Almost Powder, Rimmel London Match Perfection Concealer (I LOVE this stuff!), Essence of Beauty Kabuki, Clinique All Over Color in Peony, and Estee Lauder Blush in Radiant Kiss (I think it's discontinued).

...I keep telling myself I don't have a problem, then I look at my 24 shades of eyeshadow for a 14 day trip. Meh... From left to right, top to bottom, there's a random Clinique quad, MAC Goldmine, MAC Melon, sample size Urban Decay primer potion, Urban Decay Naked palette, and some random Estee Lauder Deluze Signature palette.

Here's the makeup leftovers, and let's switch it up - bottom to top, left to right! Clinque Chubby Stick in Mega Melon, Smashbox Lipgloss in Infamous, Clinique Long Lasting Glosswear in Clearly Pink, MAC Lipglass in Girl on Board, ELF cream eyeliner in plum, Clinique High Impact mascara, Covergirl Lashblast, and Wet n Wild Creme Eyeliner.

This is the last of it - not quite makeup but eh I crammed it in there. Left to right, top to bottom, there's a random stick of deodorant, Tweezerman Classic Lash curler, Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer, Urban Decay Grindhouse Sharpener, a bottle half filled (or empty?) with Clinique Take the Day Off, and 2 perfume samples I need to use up!

I'll see you all in 2 weeks time!

The Color Wheel is your Friend

Back to middle/high school physics lesson. Between the hiding your gum and doodling your crush's name onto the desk then immediately erasing it, you probably learned that light is made of 3 primary colors - green, blue, and red. The complementary colors (combining 2 of the primaries) and their opposing primaries create white, the most vibrant color. Green and blue create cyan, which is the complementary of red. Blue + Red = Magenta, and Magenta + Green is white. Red and green create yellow, which is the complementary is blue. And believe it or no, we can apply it to makeup!

Complementary colors really make eyes "pop," and they sit opposite each other on the color wheel.

For example, darker blue eyes are really brought out by yellows and golds. Lighter ("cyan") can be amplified with red lipstick. 

Green eyes are exaggerated by pinks, especially bright magentas.

Brown eyes are strengthened by blues!

(All of these pictures are courtesy of Makeup Geek)

Changing it up

If you went to the homepage yesterday, I changed the background to my collage of makeup ads (I'm not endorsed in any way). Later today I'll be changing the banner to the same magazine theme - look out for it!

I hope you like the new layout instead of the bland blue/purple I had going on!

Secret Weapon: Baby Wipes

Picture credit to Google

MAC Makeup remover wipes: 15$ for 30 sheets.
Neutrogena Makeup remover wipes: 7$ for 25 sheets
Pampers Soft Care Baby Wipes Refills: 8$ for 216 sheets

That was 3 digits. Two, one, six. For under 10$.

Baby wipes, while made for a baby bum, are extremely soft, actually wayyy softer than wipes made for the face. In the beginning of my makeup journey, I hoarded the Neutrogena wipes at Wal-mart that lasted maybe... 2 weeks? And that stuff burns so, so bad. Since then I've switched to my Holy Grail Clinique Take the Day Off because I mostly use eye makeup, but baby wipes are extremely useful when you can't get to a bathroom. Actually, baby wipes are very useful when you're going to the beach, camping, or generally anywhere when you have more than a purse. Try it out sometimes, baby wipes work wonders!

Urban Decay: Y U NO SEPERATE BAG?!?!

DAT BAG!

So today I got my Ulta catalog and was browsing thorough, until I get to this page

PROS:

1. DAT BAG

2. My birthday's coming up

3. It's a good value

4. I love Urban Decay!

CONS:

1. I already have Zero

2. I have some UDPP already

3. I have enough mascara for 5 faces daily

4. I already have a birthday set in mind

5. I have enough bags, I think (but not so sparkly and gold!)

Unfortunately, I think I'll sit out on this one. Sorry UD! But even a gorgeous sparkly gold bag isn't enough to drop 40$ on... If it was seperate, I'd track down where my wallet has run away screaming to and tranquilize it, but unfortunanately (I so spelled that wrong) Too Faced wins this battle.

Makeup Tag: This or That?

Blush or Bronzer? Blush! Although I'm not really into either, blush really gives my face some life.

Lipgloss or Lipstick?  Gloss! Lipstick is one of those "only for formal occasions" makeup items, like foundation (I know, I know. I'm a beauty blogger who doesn't wear foundation. I'm a rebel).

Eyeliner or Mascara?  Eyeliner! I think my lashes are perfectly fine, but my eyes are so plain without a swipe of liner, no matter pencil, gel, or liquid.

Foundation or Concealer? Concealer! I find foundation too heavy.

Neutral or Coloured Eyeshadow?  Neutral! I know it's boring, but I find it more comfortable.

Pressed or Loose Eyeshadow? Pressed, cause it's the only one I own.

Brushes or Sponges? Brushes! I'm very anti-sponge.

If I was a makeup artist...

I'm certain many girls dream of being a MUA, and some even go out to live that dream. Well, I'm not an artist, but I compiled some of my makeup together for an isty bitsy "makeup artist kit." I know I don't even have foundation or concealer in here, but keep in mind, this is only pretend.

The blue bag is by Soho, and the black and white one is from Modella. I bought them both from Wal-mart.

 The two bags held together. The blue one contains makeup and brushes, the black and white one holds odd shaped tools and supplies.

 The blue bag while open.

 From left to right: a randon pair of tweezers, POSH foundation brush, Ecotools concealer brush, Ecotools angled blush brush, Urban Decay Shadow brush, MAC 217, MAC 219, Ecotools angeled eyeliner brush, Ecotools lip brush, Paris Presents large eye brush, Paris Presents small eye brush, Paris Presents angled crease brush, and finally Ecotools lash comb/brow brush.

 Here's the eyeshadow! From left to right, top to bottom: Random Clinique Quad, Clinique Trio in Come Heather, Urban Decay Naked Palette, MAC pigment in Melon, MAC Goldmine, Wet n Wild Don't Steal My Thunder trio, Random Estee Lauder Deluxe Signature palette, and NYX 10 Color Eyeshadow palette in Champagne and Caviar. 

 Here's the face products! In clockwise order starting from the top left: Estee Lauder Blush is Radiant Kiss, Covergirl Bronzer and Blush I made, Clinique All Over Color in Peony, Wet n Wild Mineral Blush in Purely Mauve, travel Size Smashbox Photo Finish primer, and a Covergirl Pressed Powder (this stuff is so sheer I use it as a translucent powder).

 Now here are the eyeliners. Left to right: ELF cream eyeliner in Plum Purple, Urban Decay 24/7 liquid liner in Perversion, Maybelline Expertwear eyeliner in slate gray, the Urban Decay 24/7 liner Naked set (Zero, Demolition, Bourbon, Underground, and Stray Dog), Sephora Nano liners in Pure White and Pure Beige, Wet n Wild creme liner in 866 (Black).

 The lash of the makeup in the Soho bag is primers, mascaras, and lipsticks. Left to right, there's the NYX eyeshadow base in white, Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original, travel size Smashbox Layer Lash primer, Covergirl Waterproof Lashblast Volume in Black, Covergirl Lashblast Fusion in Black, Maybelline Great Lash in Clear (makes great brow gel!) and Estee Lauder lipsticks in Pink Parfait and Bois De Rose.

Now here's the Modella bag with weird shaped tools and such.  

On the way left is a random gray headband. The far right is some baby wipes, Q-tips, and a small bottle of Clinique Take the Day Off makeup remover. Top row, left to right: ELF Setting Spray, Tweezerman Classic Lash Curler, Body Shop vitamin E moisturizer, and two sticks of 5 gum. The bottom row is an Essence of Beauty kabuki, a random mascara brush I cleaned off, bath and Body works hand sanitizer in the scent Dancing Waters, a tube of original Carmex, and Urban Decay's Grindhous pencil sharpener!