No Buy Makeup Challenge Update-Week #1

As I said in my last post, I began a "No Buy Challenge" on January 1st and plan on going until March 31st... I know seems like forever.  I have really been looking at my life from a new perspective lately, for a lot of reasons I think, including how poor my finances have been and I've really been trying to cut back on excessive spending.  Well, while looking at this I have realized just how much money I have spent on makeup over the past year... and if I were to give it a rough guess I would probably guess around $1000. A $1000 dollars. There is no justification for that.  Now, that's not to say that I regret my purchases or that I am not in love with  my makeup, but rather I just cannot be okay with spending money like that on makeup when I'm in default on my student loans and am living with my parents... it's unacceptable.  Another thing I realized whilst surveying my life and specifically my makeup collection. I have so many products that I rarely ever use.... nice products that just get lost in the shuffle as well as products I spent good money on but didn't really love.

And so, all things considered,  I decided that I'm going to commit to not purchasing any make up products for 3 whole months. Last year I attempted a 10 pan challenge and failed epic-ly, it seemed daunting and scary to have to pick products to completely finish.  I also realized that I was rushing through, using more product than I normally would and was reaching for the same products every single day, which is not the point of the challenge that I'm doing this time. This time I want to work on appreciating the things that I have so that I don't find the need to constantly buy more.  I want to experiment with things that I haven't used much of in the past and try out some of the palettes that have been neglected due to having smaller more compact options. I want to really savor the "art" of using all the makeup I've purchased and make it worth it. Who knows, maybe I'll end up continuing it on for longer than 3 months.  But I'm not thinking that way yet.  Just want to be greatful for what I have now.

This week wasn't too hard actually, very surprising since I was in more than one Drugstore in the past 3 days and each time ended up with something in my hands.  But it was pretty easy to talk myself down from there and remember my goals.  I did buy my first Sigma brush, the E25 Blending Brush, with a gift card I recieved from my brother for Christmas.  Considering it wasn't my money, nor was it an actual "makeup product" I didn't feel too guilty, I've been needing to replenish a few of my brushes, my ELF Studio Brushes, though I love them they are starting to fall apart and so I'm slowly going to work on building up my set again but for now it was just that one 10 dollar splurge. Let's see what all the hype is about I guess lol.

Well I hope you are all having a wonderful and blessed 2013 so far!
And if any of you have completed a challenge similar to this one please comment with your tips!
Talk to you soon!
Colie   

My 10 Favorite ELF Products

Hey ALL,
So as you know, I am obsessed with ELF products, which in case you don't know where to purchase these products you can find the entire line on eyeslipsface.com and select items can be found at Target and Dollar Tree stores.  ELF is an incredibly inexpensive line of makeups with items ranging from 1-8 dollars and most of them are on the lower end of the line.  The line is broken into three different categories; essential ($1), studio ($3/6) and mineral ($5/8).  Honestly, I feel that the quality of these items are so much better than many drugstore brand items and their brushes are better than most I have ever tried.

So here are my 10 favorites in no particular order.

• Studio Powder Brush- I use this brush for everything, my foundation, my powder, my blush and my bronzer.  $3
• Studion "C" Brush- This brush is so perfect for patting color onto the lid.  $3
• Eye Brightener Pencil in White-This is an awesome inner corner brightener and waterline color $1
• Cream Eyeliner in Teal- This color makes your eye POP so well and stays put all day! $3
• Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black- I have had this liner for 5 months, it hasn't dried out and this pen is beautiful, you can make the most precise line that does not budge. $1
• Contouring Blush and Bronzer Duo- dupes for Nars Laguna and Orgasm, this due has probably had the most success at creating a name for itself.  Both are incredibly pigmented and never chalky.  Both of these colors are incredibly buildable.  $3
• Mineral All Over Eye Brush- This is my everyday makeup brush for all over the lid, incredibly soft and easily cleaned.  It is also made of recyclable material and does it's job in the best way possibly. love love love. $5
• Eyeshadown Primer in Sheer- Primers play a vital role in creating makeup looks that both pop and last all day and this primer does it's job with ease and staying power.  The doe foot applicatior and smooth serum help to make this products one of the best.  $1
• Conditioning Lip Balm SPF 15- These lipbalms, which come in many colors, are very pigmented and nourishing.  The only complaint I have about them is the enormous waste of product they use in the packaging, they need to either go green or fill up the package.  $3
• Makeup Remover Pen- last but not least this pen is great at removing smudge lines when your lower lash makeup smudges or when your still wet with mascara lashes touch the upper lid.  Overall great product.  $3

Review Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Blush and Bronzer

Blush and Bronzer Compact

In my last post I gave ya'll my opinions on the new PF pH Matchmaker lipgloss. Well in the last week I have most definitely failed at my project pan and purchased both the blush and bronzer from CVS at 40% off and each product had a 3 dollar off coupon on top of the sale. Well these products are most definitely worth breaking my project pan promise. Both of these products have the same packaging which is super cute.  The only complaint I have is that it is really bulky and gives the impression of there being a lot more product than actually comes in the product.  The bronzer has more product than the blush does which is sad for me because I only use a tiny bit of bronzer but the blush is SO pigmented that I am sure it will last quite a while

Brush and Bronzer with mirror
and my silly face!!!

Brush and Bronzer Swatches
after 60 seconds.

I love these colors. The blush starts as a very light pink and brightens on my skin to a very bright pink fun color blush that actually looks very natural on the apples of my cheeks when blended out.  The bronzer is a little dark for me but I know I'll be darker during the summer... well my freckles will connect during the summer, creating an illusion of darkness. I don't notice the bronzer changing color on my skin but it is a nice glow to being with. There is a little more shimmer in both products than I love but that is okay. 

Blush and Bronzer without glare or my face!

Overall I love both of these products, they are super cute and very pigmented and I love them so much.  

The amount of Blush in the container

Hope this review was helpful and please follow, comment and come back!!! 

The amount of Bronzer in the container. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Review- Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Lipgloss

pH Matchmaker Lipgloss in Light Pink

OMG this stuff is friggin' amazing.  At first when this application is clear and shimmery with no scent or taste.  It has a great glossy appearance and very little glitter. The packaging is beautiful and classy, black and pink with a built in light and mirror.  Within the first 60 seconds of wear the color of this gloss completely changes from a clear gloss with a light pink undertone to a bright pink gloss.  The change is radical and beautiful. I was immediately in love with this gloss.  I love bright pinks but they often are too bright for me, this one is perfect. It is dark enough that it suits me but bright enough that it'still fun and completely wearable. To be utterly honest, I do not buy the whole "changing with the pH of your body" thing, as I have had other people try it on and it always seems to change to that same bright pink glossy shade with just a hint of shimmer and a perfect amount of shine.  

TAG: Questions!!!

Hey guys!

Quickly doing this beauty Tag before heading to work!

SKINCARE
-
-How many times do you wash your face daily? 
2 times

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
Combination

-What is your current facial wash?

Clean & Clear Finishes Oil, Free Pore Perfecting Cleanser

-Do you exfoliate?
I try to but I forget

-What brand do you use?
Clean and Clear

-What moisturizer do you use?
Bio Oil and Ponds 

-Do you have freckles?

Billions

-Do you use eye cream?
No not really

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Not really but I do get breakouts 

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
Nope, but I did in highschool and college. 

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use?
I use a combination of Rimmel Clean Finish and Revlon Photo Ready

-How about concealer?
I use a yellow correcting concealer for my undereye area from ELF and a glamoflage from Hard Candy on blemishes

-Do you know your undertone color?
Pink unfortunately

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I don't use them, I have really long eyelashes anyways and they seem like way too much work.

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yeah but I generally have ADD about mascara and use a bunch all the time.

-What brand of mascara do you use?
Loreal right now but I use everything realy.

-Sephora or MAC?
Sephora

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
Nope I've only been to Mac2 times in my life. 

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
I use the SoHo beauty sponge for my foundation and then use an ELF eyeshadow all over brush and theyre powder brush and then use a Salma Hayek blending brush. 

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
 ELF eyeshadow primer

-For the face?I use hardcandy face primer,

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
I like purples a lot. 

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Pencil, gel and liquid depending on the day. 

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
only when I am doing makeup in the car

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
only like 2

-Do you use mineral makeup?
yes I use mineral eyeshadows

-What is your favorite lipstick?
right now mine is the Lip butters

-How about lipgloss?
too many to decide but I love the ELF hypershine glosses.

-What is your favorite blush to use?
MIlani Baked blushes

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
No but I have bought a lot from Amazon.com

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
yeah I love it.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
None near me sadly.

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
I'd love to.

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Somettimes

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
When people use way too much eyeliner

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
Usually colorful but not always bright.

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
Ummmmmmm Carrie Underwood.

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
Mascara

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Sometimes but not if I'm going anywhere important
-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
No.

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
ELF

-What do you think of Makeup??

It's too addictive but such a self esteem booster. 

Colors of the Rainbow Tag

I decided to do this tag after reading http://makeup4myage.blogspot.com's blog today.

Now the way this one works is you have to name one favourite beauty product in your collection representing each colour of the rainbow.  One of each of the following:

White

  I have two white products I could not live without. 

1. Sephora Jumbo Waterproof Eye Liner

2. ELF Mineral Eyeshadow in Angelic

Red

Revlon Lip Butter in Candied Apple

Yellow

ELF Cover Everything Concealer in Corrective Yellow has been my dark circles life saver this month. I love it so much. 

Green

Wet N Wild Juicy Lip Balm SPF 15 in Watermelon Pasteque, not the best lipbalm I have ever had but its the best green product.

Blue

ELF Mineral Eyeshadow in Beachy is the most vibrant shimmery blue ever!

Indigo

  The top right corner of the ELF Brightening Eye Shadow in Ocean Dreams is the most perfect Indigo color ever.

Violet

The second darkest shade in the NYC IndividualEyes for Green Eyes is such a beautiful violet maroon color. I use this color at least 4 times a week.

So yeah thats my makeup rainbow lol!

Consider yourself tagged!!

My Go To Skin Care Products

So today I decided to do a post specifically on skin care products that I use daily and highly suggest.

I am Irish and have dry, freckly, fair skin and thick, straight black hair.  I was negligent sun protection until about 2 years ago and my skin has been damaged by the sun for many years.   The result is very dry, sometimes painfully so, skin.  I also have patches of eczema that are constantly popping up on my arms and legs, particularly in cold dry weather or when I spend a lot of time in chlorine.

Here are the products I turn to regularly:

• U-Lactin Moisturizing Lotion by Allerderm- My mom actually brought this home from work one day a year or so ago and I was initially turned off by how plain it was.  She works in a pharmacy and had them order it for her.  My whole family suffers with dry skin but my younger brother got the worst of it, with painful eczema that covers his body head to toe.  This lotion has been the only thing that has helped his skin and after a month or two of everyone raving about it I tried it.  It is amazing.  It makes your skin so soft and literally allows it to absorb more moisture that regularly.  You can get this product in most pharmacies but they often do not keep it in stock so you may need to ask the pharmacist to order it for you.  A 16 oz. bottle generally retails for roughly $13-18 but it lasts quite a while and is well worth it.  You can also buy it online.

• Bio Oil- Every single night after I remove my makeup and waskh my face I place a few drops of Bio Oil in the palm of my hand and smooth it over my face.  Application is so simple, it smells fabulous and it literally removes patches of dryness that have accumulated under my makeup during the day.  I only suggest using this at night as it is an oil and does take time to absorb into your face but in the morning your face feels refreshed and smooth.   This product claims to help with scarring and stretch marks but I can't make any claims about that, though I do feel like my few acne scars have diminished since I began using Bio Oil.. It does seem to help even out skin tone also, which I love because I can be very blotchy and red.  Bio Oil comes in many different sizes but the product is all the same and can be found at any drugstore or pharmacy or online for around $8-12. In purchase mine in a 3 pack at BJ's for around $20.

• Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy Oil Body Wash-  I wholeheartedly love and believe in Argan Oil for anything and everything and this Body Wash has not let me down.  I have been a longtime user of Organix hair products, particularly the Argan Oil line.  This is such a creamy moisturising consistency and the smell is light and very similar to the hair products.   This product can be bought at any pharmacy, drugstore or  online for around $8-10 dollars.  I received a $2 off coupon for this product the last time that I bought  the hair products at CVS which brought the price of the product down to around $6

• Burts Bee's Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream-  The climate being what it is during New England  winters my hands become very dry and painful.  This balmy cream has been amazing in the winter and lasts so long.  I use this everyday at least once but a little goes such a long way.  I love the fact that this product smells like almonds and is very waxy, more like a skin protectant than a cream.  This is like chapstick for your chapped hands. It comes in a cute small glass pot that is very portable also.    Love. Pure unadulterated love.  Like all the other products listed above you can find this product at most drugstores, Walmart or online for $5-9 dollars. 

Well those are my most used and loved skin products.  If you have any comments or suggestions for me let me know in a comment por favor. I will be following this up with a similar post on hair care and lipcare products in the next week or so!

My Project 10 Pan

Hey All! So I realized I have been really gluttonous about my makeup collection in the past month and need to pull in the reigns. So I decided to start my own "Project 10 Pan".  I am so nervous about this project because I am literally addicted to makeup but I love these products that I have picked so I am not worried about this because the last few months I have definitely been hoarding makeup.  I have bought everything in sight without thinking about how much I was spending.  So here it goes! For those of you who don't know a "Project Pan" is when you go on a makeup/beauty product buying strike until you finish "X" amount of products.  I will be hitting pan on 10 products.


As of tonight the following rules apply:

• To add a product to my finished "Pan" list, I have to use up the entire thing. Like as in throwing it in the trash barrel kind of finished. Dead.
• I may slip up if I find something limited edition, one of a kind, and a product that I know I will regret passing up. I will probably just keep it in the box until I'm done with this project. Then it will be like a little reward for finishing! 
• Building off of the previous rule, if I see something on a major sale or if ELF has a major deal I will buy the product but it will remain in it's packaging until the product pan is over.  I will also let all of my readers know if this happens so I can be kept accountable. 
• If I receive any giftcards or CVS extrabucks I will use them.  The point of this is to spend less money, not downsize.

Here are my products:

• E.L.F. Complexion Perfection Powder- I love this product so much and use it constantly.  It's only $3 dollars from eyeslipsface.com and I will be starting a brand new one for this product.
• Sephora Mineral Matte Touch Up Powder- I just bought this product last week and it's a great setting powder. So smooth!!
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Nude Palette-  The colors in the palette are beautiful and I use them all the time.  It is very versitile and the shadows are all beautifully creamy.
• Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes- This is my everyday mascara and this is a fairly new product so finishing it will take a while. 
• Sephora Jumbo 12hr Waterproof Liner in White- I use this everyday for innercorner brightening but I have a whole bunch of innercorner pencils so I would like to continue with this one. 
• E.L.F Mineral Eye Liner in Black- Again I use this pencil almost every day.  It is a great waterline color and the pigmentation and staying power are amazing!
• MAC PaintPot in Rubenesque- This will be my most difficult product to hit pan on because I only use a tiny bit per use.
• E.L.F. Cover Everything Concealer in Corrective Yellow- This is a great undereye concealer.
• Hard Candy Sheer Envy Illuminating Primer-  This stuff is great but I have the regular one that I prefer so this is the only product I am trying to Pan to get rid of rather than just throwing out my money. 
• E.L.F Minty Lip Gloss in Seattle- Clear, shimmery, minty, GOODNESS!

Yep so that's it! If anyone has every done a product pan or a makeup diet please let me know any tips you used for curbing the desire to buy buy buy. LOL. Thanks for reading and Ill be back soon!

Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty- TAG

Hey all!
I have never done a tag before but really wanted to do this one because I get to talk about my favorite things!!


TAG QUESTIONS


1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?
My most inexpensive items are all my E.L.F. Essential products that are only a dollar- my favorites are the shimmer sticks (shimmery liners that have built in sharpeners in the cover) and the waterproof eyeliner pens which come in a range of colors and leave a beautifully precise line every time. Love both of those products. 


As for the most expensive item I own, that has to be my Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV.  I got this for $35 dollars from Hautelook and love it so much. 


2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?
I have a love hate relationship with any loose eyeshadows and pigments.  They are beautiful but they are SOOOO messy! I also have a love hate relationship with really dark eyeshadows because I usually like the end effect but they are so dramatic that I have a hard time integrating them into my day to day. 


3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?
My Physicians Formula Happy Boosters products both have the most amazing scent!


4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?
I tend to neglect doing my hair because it takes soooo long and it ends up on top of my head in 15 minutes of my punching in at work.


5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?
Good eye makeup! Like when you get that perfect blend and it all comes together it's amazing!!!!


6. LUST: What products do you think you could never live without?
I could never live without mascara.  I rarely leave the house without it.  My favorite kind is Lash Stilletos. 


7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?
Either of the Naked Palettes would be amazing.  But I usually just ask for gift cards. 


I tag you all! Just leave a link below

Review: E.L.F. Eye Transformer Palette

Hello All!,
So today I am going to give a review/tutorial on the E.L.F. Eye Transformer Palette.  This is a $3 product available on eyeslipsface.com  Just to give you all some background information about how I ended up with this product and what it is.  A month or two ago I placed a E.L.F order and had a coupon code for a whole bunch of extra products and one of them was this product. I will include pictures and swatches below but this is essentially a small black pallet with 4 rectangular powders, a small brush and a rectangular mirror.  I never really understood what it was for because the colors were all very similar, very shimmery and all very light pastels.  Then one day I was watching a n E.L.F. Haul video by xoemilygracexo on youtube and in the related videos sidebar there was a video about this product and I finally figured out how fabulous this product really is!

So here is how you use it:

1. You apply your eye makeup as you would normally. 
2. Apply your eyeliner; pencil, gel or liquid in a neutral tone- black, white and brown
3. Use a precision shadow brush or liner brush to apply any 1 of the 4 tones of the Eye Transformer
4. Watch your normal colored eye liner turn to a beautiful shimmery toned liner

So yes I am in love with this amazing product and suggest everyone goes to the E.L.F. site and buys themselves one of these products because the outcome is astounding!

Here are the pictures//swatches... ENJOY!!!:

This is what the palette looks like. The colors are from left to right-  green, copper, pink and  purple
The green was broken when I received it but it was free so its ok!
\

Swatches after Transformer

White Eye Liner Swatches- Before Eye Transformer

Swatches after Transformer

Black Eye Liner Swatches- Before Eye Transformer

Youtube Channel I Absolutely Love

 http://www.youtube.com/user/emilynoel83
This is one of the most beautiful woman ever and she talks about really doable makeup, down to earth hauls and great advice.  She talks a lot about drugstore makeup and dupes of high end makeup.  In real life she is a news anchor so her videos are very high quality and she sounds wonderful, not like she's reciting something or is trying to impress anyone.  She's real.

I suggest everyone go watch some of her videos if you're looking for any tips or tutorials.  She has over 600 videos on her channel so chances are that you will find something you are looking for.


Also check out her blog for more information.
http://www.beautybroadcast.net/

Hard Candy Review

Last week I went to Walmart for the first time in ages with the intention of picking up a trash bucket for my bedroom and a few shirts for my younger brother. I came out with 80 dollars worth of trash bucket, boys clothes, toys and of course... makeup.  I seriously have a problem.  Anyways, I noticed HardCandy and loved the amount of products and colors in their eyeshadow collection.  I tore myself away from eye makeup because I have WAY too much eye makeup and looked more towards their foundations, primers and concealers. I have been in the market for a new primer and that was my excuse for being in the cosmetic section in the first place, much to the annoyance of my 7 year old shopping partner.  I have used HardCandy Sheer Envy primer before, in their "illuminating" style and decided to purchase the normal finish primer.  I also bought their Just Face It One Step Foundation in the color light as well as their Nobody's Perfect Concealer Palette.

Lets Start With the Good:

Sheer Envy Primer-Original

-This primer is AMAZING.  I purchased it because I recently ran out of my ELF Mineral Infused Primer after only 2 weeks of use.  I wanted something that I didn't have to wait for shipping and that came in a bigger portion so as to not run out so fast.  For only $8 I am more than pleasantly surprised.  Adorable packaging, smooth moisturising finish and all day coverage make this product a 5 out of 5 for me.  One dime sized dollop is enough to cover your whole face and it buffs right into your face, diminishing the small lines and large pores that cover my face.  I don't think it changed the coverage of the makeup but I am sure that it helped my very sheer coverage foundation last all day.


And Onto the Not So Good:
Face It One Step Foundation- Light
-I have tried a lot of foundations in the past month or so. I've tried some for combination skin, some for dry skin, some heavy coverage and some light. This was the WORST foundation I have ever used.  It was think, oily and shiny.  It looked so cakey and no matter what I applied it with, under or over it just did not change its consistency and was returned 2 days later.

NoBody's Perfect Concealer Pallette- Fair
-I wont say I hated this palette, but it was not the quality that I had hoped for.  All of the concealers were too thin and none of the colours seemed to match my face well enough to conceal any imperfections.  I just overall did not enjoy this product at all.  Considering this was practically a 10 dollar product I could not bring myself to keep it while knowing that I could have found something of equal or greater quality from ELF.  So I returned it also.

Overall I found this shopping trip disappointing, especially considering I had been looking forward to trying HardCandy cosmetics so much for so long.   So I will be thankful for the Primer and sad about the rest but I will move on.

Have a great day and thanks for reading.  Feel free to comment below.

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