Eyes

May 2016 Haul

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Alright, I was supposed to be on a No Buy through June. I screwed that up. But we all benefit!

I wound up getting a promotional thing from eBates – on top of that day’s 8% cash back from Macy’s, there was a $25 back on $100 spent on Cosmetics. That’s easy. Responsible? Questionable, but I decided to treat myself because these last several months have kicked. My. Ass. Then, I had a gift card to get my brows waxed at Ulta (another great experience with Benefit) and had some extra, so I got something silly and gimmicky for fun. Here’s what’s new from my May 2016 Haul:

May 2016 HaulMay 2016 Haul

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Urban Decay Stash

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This is one of the eight items in the Sephora Paint it Pink set.

My love of Urban Decay eyeshadow, like LORAC, is well-documented. When I saw that this set had a full-sized pan of Urban Decay Stash, that sold it (along with the presence of a beautyblender). I checked out what Temptalia had to say on this shade and got excited pretty quickly.

Urban Decay Stash Eyeshadow

Normally, I take pristine photos of the pans before I touch them… but I couldn’t help myself.

In the pan, Urban Decay Stash looks like it will be a frosty, down-right frigid pink. It isn’t (sorry for the ‘eh,’ lighting):

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Products I Love But Don’t Always Use

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Just because a product is good, or even great, doesn’t mean I’m always up for exerting the effort to use it. I could easily title this post, “Products I Love But Don’t Routinely Make Time For…Because Sleep.”

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade

Dipbrow, for instance. Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade is fantastic. I’m still a loyal user, but I don’t use it daily. I simply don’t always have enough time, or bothers to give, to sit there in front of a mirror sculpting my brows with a brush. It is possible to use this product in a hurry, but I’m usually seeking a different look.

sephoraserum

Sephora Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural is so gorgeous. The finish is wonderful. It is not, however, remotely forgiving to the smallest hint of atypical texture – be it dryness or flaky skin. It requires me to pay a little more attention to my skin before use and during application; not a bad thing, I’m just not always up for it.

 

udfbombRed Lipstick (any). I love reds and close-to-red shades; they’re bold and empowering. That said, I usually wear MLBB shades for two reasons – one, they’re flattering and two, they’re effortless. You have to be trying to mess them up, right? But red (like UD F-Bomb or even bold, close-to-red pinks like UD Catfight) requires attentiveness. Depending on your poison, you may or may not need lip liner, but applying without a mirror is out of the question. KvD Foiled Love Lipstick in Adora (now discontinued, but I believe Adora is available in the Studded Kiss formula now) is life, but I can’t slap it on haphazardly running out the door.

 

Products I Love But Don't Always Use

Pigments are delightfully fun! I only own four – three from NYX, and Rushmetal from MAC (from that whole Glambot thing). Anyone who has ever used loose pigments can tell you, however, that there is no such thing as, “really quick,” with them. Application takes more steps, fallout is a thing, cleanup of your workspace will always be a thing. I only really end up using these for special occasions as a result.

Maybelline Gel Liner

 

Gel liner is my favorite, but most days, I’m using dark eyeshadow to define my lashline. I need at least three minutes to apply it, more if I’m doing something, “fun,” like wings or flicks.

I really enjoy all of these things, but in my normal, run-of-the-mill, day-to-day life I can’t pull it all off. I’ll often do one of these things on a weekday, but being as that I wake up at 5:45, I’m desperate for all the sleep I can get!

Business Trip Makeup

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First – I survived my flights! I shared the contents of my TSA Approved Quart Bag, but what about business trip makeup?

It depends on the trip.

For me, the contents of my quart bag will be more-or-less the same regardless of the nature of the flight. Makeup, however, is going to different significantly between a business trip and, say, flying out of town for a wedding or a brief vacation.

Context is important. I’m attending an conference for a product my industry uses. This means I will be representing my organization to one of our vendors… to me, this calls for trying a little harder than just looking awake (which I can frequently swing at my office, being both a combination of my field and business casual office). I will be in conferences and meetings during the day, and there is a reception cocktail hour one of the evenings, and we will likely have to do dinner-type things with this vendor.

Business Trip MakeupMy business trip makeup

Here’s what I brought, considering space is a premium:

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February 2016 Favorites

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February 2016 FavoritesFebruary 2016 Favorites
1.Pantene Pro-V Stylers Max Hold Mousse, $7 / 2. Coastal Scents BR-B-S03, $5
3. Etude House Drawing Eye Brow, $5

This is the shortest favorites I’ve ever done. February has been impossibly draining so I really haven’t spent that much time playing with beauty products. It’s been an unprecedentedly demanding month (at ye olde day job); I basically get up, go to work, come home, do more work, make and eat food, shower, dry hair, sleep. On weekends, I do…you guessed it, more work, and veg out. Here’s the few things that earned their places as my February 2016 Favorites, though!

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