Monthly Empties: April 2015 #365DaysofEmpties

It's that time againnnnn! Here is my roundup for April's EMPTIES!...

• Product(s) I will miss the most: The ItCosmetics My Sculpted Face palette. I have used and loved this contour palette for years. It was the contour palette that came before all other contour palettes. However, though I have love (and destroyed) this product, I want to try new things. Anastasia Contour Kit here I come.......
• Product(s) I cannot live/survive/breathe without and have already repurchased: Clear Care Contact Solution. I won't start the lecture, but this is a necessity to life. Period.
• Product(s) that will eventually be repurchased: Clarins Multi Active Day Cream and Serum. I have loved all the Clarins products that I've tried. 
• Sample(s) that made me want the full size: Elizabeth & James Nirvana White. Mmmmmmm. The Josie Maran Argan Exfoliating Cleansing Powder. I would purchase this... If I hadn't just purchased the Bliss Micro Magic. For now this will have to wait. And the Wax Melt samples from my girl Erica (@Ericasells on IG). Check out her Etsy shop HERE.
• Product(s) that disappointed me the most: The Whish Blueberry Shave Cream. That was such a disaster. I wanted to love this product. It smelled amazing... Until it touched my skin. And then it all went down hill. The scent changed on my skin. And it was bad. This product is a true CREAM and does not foam or lather. I couldn't get the hang of shaving with this stuff. I used the entire tube in one use because it just didn't feel like I had enough on my legs. And it clumped up in the razor's blades. NO BUENO.
• Product you couldn't pay me to (re)purchase. EVER.: Those Dollar Tree Cotton Swabs. Let's just say no wonder they were $1.

Well another month has come and gone and I'm still going strong with my empties project. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram (@the_wonky_brow) for #365DaysofEmpties!!! xoxoxo

April Subscription Services: Ipsy, and Birchbox, and Boxy Charm. Oh My!

It's that time of month again, MAIL TIME!!! The days I receive my beauty subscriptions are my happiest mail days. And yes, I signed up for another one... Birchbox.  ~ Birchbox ($10/Month) ~
Birchbox was actually the very first box I ever signed up for, before Ipsy and longggggg before BoxyCharm. But after I started receiving my Ipsy bag, I felt like Birchbox just wasn't for me and I cancelled. However, I've noticed that they've changed things up since I was last a member. There is a new point system for reviewing products (for every 100 points you get $10 to shop in the Birchbox store), and you now have the option of choosing one item that will be guaranteed, choosing a "Guest Editior" box, or being completely surprised. For this month I was completely surprised since I signed up AFTER they sent out the selection email...

April 2015 Birchbox

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream in Blueberry. OMG. The smell of this stuff is amazing. In the tube. When I actually used it, it took on a very strange scent that I was not a fan of. Also, if you are like me and prefer to shave with products that create a foam, this is not for you. This is a creamy consistency that reminds me of hair conditioner. Lastly... I used this whole tube in one shave session. Granted, I probably over used it... but that's because I kept feeling like I need more. And more. And more. I would not purchase the full size at $20 a pop if I'm just going to use it up in the blink of an eye.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Brightening Illuminator. This was just average for me. It's a beautiful highlight but the consistency is extremely runny, similar to Benefit's High Beam. If you like liquid illuminizers, you will enjoy this. If you aren't really a fan of liquid products, keep it moving...

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil. In one of my very first Birchboxes I received a leave in conditioner from this brand that smelled so amazing, I bought the full-size. This smells exactly the same, like fresh baked goods with icing or something. And it leaves your hair feeling soft. I like it. I would consider purchasing it if I didn't already have enough hair care products.

Temple Spa Peace Be Still Calming Face & Body Balm. That is wayyyyyy to long of a name. And I couldn't use this. I just find the scent repulsive and refuse to put this on my body and especially my face. Also, I don't like the consistency of this product. The fact that it's a balm, to me, means it should be thicker and it's just not. No thank you.

Supergoop! Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream. I don't really have a feeling about this product. I don't plan on using it. It was a waste for me. I'm just not interested. Sue me, I'm not on the Supergoop! band wagon. And I think they are in subscription boxes far too often.
This was just so-so for my first month back with Birchbox but I'm excited to see what next month's box will be since I will get to make a choice!!! ~ Ipsy ($10/Month) ~
I have to be honest... I'm considering canceling my Ipsy. I have been receiving it for a year and a half and I'm just feeling very "Mehhhh" about it... But I just can't bring myself to do it. Some months are amazing, and others are not. But those good months, are just so good. It's the IpsyCycle and it's a vicious one...

April 2015 Ipsy

Hikari Cosmetics Blush in Tango. Okay, I'm torn here. It a full size blush. It's beautiful. But I'm tired of seeing the same brands over and over. I wouldn't have chosen this for myself. I don't plan on using it. But most people would probably be ecstatic to receive a product like this. I think I'm just jaded... Lather Ultra Light Face Lotion. This I like. It doesn't have a strong scent and absorbs into the skin quickly. It's flaw is that it doesn't contain a spf. Night cream it is... MicaBeauty Eye Primer. This is another miss for Ipsy. I wasn't excited to see a potted eye primer to begin with, but THEN I got an email about funky green/black spots in some of the samples. They say they are just from bubbles formed during the cooling process but who in their right mind wants to put something with unidentified spots on their face?!? I emailed Ipsy and they are sending me a replacement product. Can't wait to see what it is... theBalm NUDE Dude Eyeshadow Single in Flirty. I probably would've been really excited about this item if my One Month, One Palette project last month wasn't on theBalm's NUDE'tude palette, and if I had liked it. So... Meh...  Mullein & Sparrow Mini Lip & Cheek Tint. Now this I was excited to try because of the clay mask I had received from this brand in February's BoxyCharm. That being said, this did not meet expectations. I didn't like the scent. I didn't like how thin and slippery it felt on my lips. I tried it as a cheek tint and it did give a nice flush but it wore off my skin within a couple hours. Boo. Maybe next month will be better... Maybe not. It might be time to say goodbye, at least for now. We shall see. ~ BoxyCharm ($21/Month) ~
Behold the wonder that is BoxyCharm...

April 2015 BoxyCharm

Hands down, my favorite box. Of life. This box costs $21 a month and this month's total value is over $147. #win. Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette (Full size). YESSSSSSSS. When I found out this was going to be in this month's box I was thrilled. I've been dying to try one of these Coastal Scents Palettes and this more than makes my $21 worth it. Some of the shades are harder to work with than others but over all, this is a great palette.  OFRA Illuminating Blush Stripes (Full size). When I saw that we weren't going to be receiving an OFRA eye liner, I did a happy dance. This is a gorgeous highlighter. I personally have to stay to the "upper" stripes because that gold at the bottom is a tad to glittery and, well, GOLD for my skin tone. But the other three shades are beautiful, singly or combined. Vincent Longo Due Eye Pencil in Lime/Forest (Full size). I am on the fence with this one. It seems a little hard to use, it doesn't glide like I prefer my eye pencils to. BUT the Lime color is just so cool. I love the shade. I'll keep this around. Coolway Smoothing Lotion (Full size). This claims to give smooth, manageable hair with no frizz. I live in Florida. There is no such thing as "no frizz". But It gave a valiant effort. It also doesn't help that my hair looks like Albert Einstein's if I don't use a flat iron. Regardless, I will use this. And it's colorsafe. Harvey Prince Signature Mini Roller Fragrance (Mini). Now this was a NOOOOOO. It is just not my type of fragrance. This is a "grandma" type scent, except not MY grandma. My grandma smells good. But this is just not for me. At all. Ever. No.  Overall, I love my subscription boxes and I got some pretty cool stuff this month. What do you think about it??? Do you already receive these boxes? Let me know!!! xoxoxo If you want to sign up for any of these services the links are here: Subscribe to Ipsy, Subscribe to Birchbox, Subscribe to BoxyCharm. P.S. This post was not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above. They were purchased with my own money and are my own and honest opinions.

What does beauty mean?

I am always drawn to the people who know themselves, exactly who they are, and what they want out of life. Those who have the courage to be "different" and follow through on that regardless of what those around them have to say. Those who aren't afraid to stand out. Those who stay true to themselves at all costs. Those who wear two different socks just because they can... ;-)

It has taken me a long time to get to know myself, but I'm finally getting there. That sounds crazy, right? But it's true. There was a period in my life where I was lost. Where I was dependent upon another person to make me feel good enough, whole, happy. But I wasn't any of those things. I woke up one day and realized I didn't know who I was anymore, or where I had gone, and how this had happened... I made some changes in my life and I am thankful every day that I did. I became a happier person. I smiled more. I laughed more. I remembered what it was to be ME again. To be with friends and family, those who loved me for ME. And to have fun! And get dressed up and go out. And feel beautiful!  
Then, I started my blog because I found a passion. And there was no one there to put me down about it or discourage me. Yes, makeup can be a frivolous thing. It is a luxury. And it isn't something that is necessary to survive. But I love it. I love how it can make an average girl feel like a million dollars. I love how a little bit of eyeliner or mascara can make a woman feel like she can take on the world. I love the transformations and how you can change what you look like as the mood strikes. You can be whoever YOU want to be. It's a happy place for me. I enjoy writing these blog posts, testing out products, shopping for makeup, and the friends I've made who love the same things that I do (Shoutout to all my girls on IG!!!). 
Realizing that we only get ONE chance at this life, I want to stay true to who I am. Most importantly, I want to be true to who I want to BECOME. I know myself, strengths and weaknesses. I accept both and work everyday to be better. I don't always do the right thing. I make mistakes and I fail. But I own them. And I try. For me, my love of makeup and beauty products ties deeply into a time in my life where I began to find myself again. So my definition of beauty is not perfection, or the perfect lip color, or a flawless contour, but being true to YOURSELF,  and knowing exactly WHO you are.
Every person has their own definition of what beauty means and what they find beautiful. That's why sayings like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", "beauty comes in all shapes and sizes", and "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it" exist... Each person also has their own story or tale for their reasoning on what beauty is/means to them... What's your story? What does beauty mean to you? xoxoxo.

4 or More Tag!!!

This tag was originally created by ItsKeerstin on YouTube (Check her out HERE! She is my favorite YouTuber. She always keeps it real... And interesting). The basic idea of this tag is to show products that you like sooooooo much, that you actually went out and purchased FOUR or MORE of them. This doesn't include sets where you received four or more of an item in one shot. For example, I bought a set of 8 Makeup Geek Blushes. That was one purchase, total. I didn't buy one, LOVE it and go back and buy more. Get it???  I thought it would be fun to share these items with you, (but I am praying to any/all gods that will listen, that my boyfriend does not read this post), so let's just jump right in... I will list all shades I currently own and my all-time favs will be in bold. Lip Products:

• Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. I currently own 5 of these. But in the past, I had a lot more. I've used quite a few of them up, I love them THAT much. This formula is creamy and smooth (except for two that had glitter in them), it's hydrating and most shades are pretty opaque. Current Shades: Lollipop, Juicy Papaya, Sugar Frosting (Discontinued), Creamsicle (Discontinued), and Creme Brulee.
• Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Sticks. I own 9 out of 10 of the shades. That should speak for itself. The only one I'm missing is the light orange shade, Mischievous. Fav.: Elusive.
• NYX Butter Gloss. I have 6. This is my all-time favorite gloss. Hands down. It's not sticky or stinky. They don't leave any weird film or residue on the lips. And the color selection is great, plus they keep introducing more! (I haven't tried the intense ones YET, so I can't speak for those). Current Shades: Maple Blondie, Vanilla Cream Pie, Éclair, Crème Brulee, Peaches and Cream, and Merengue.
• NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. I own 7. I have heard some people say that these accentuate dryness or flakiness on the lips, I do not have this problem. I also exfoliate my lips every night. And anytime I'm going to wear a matte lip product. These are a definite favorite of mine! Current Shades: Prague, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Athens, Tokyo, Addis Ababa, and Antwerp.
• MAC Lipsticks. What makeup junkie doesn't have more than 4 of these??? Not including limited edition shades, I own 6. And we'll just leave it at that. For me, MAC lipsticks are perfect. For price, finish, and shade selection... This is where it's at. Current Shades: Snob, Pure Zen, Angel, Ravishing, Creme D'Nude, and Bombshell.
• Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick Duos. I owned 3 of these... And then I bought the Mix and Mingle set around the holidays and got 5 more. Because this formula is awesome. Current Shades: Poppy/Scarlet, Riesling/Tannin, Palomino/Violet, Vidal/Pomegranate, Musk/Lychee, Musk/Retsina, Lingonberry/Tangerine, and Fig/Date.
• Sephora Nano Lip Liners. I have 5 of these. I'm not really into lip liners and I don't use them often. So I love that these are minis and only $5. Current Shades: Native Nude, Candid Candy, Royal Rose, Funky Fuchsia, and Lovely Lilac.

Honorable Mentions...

• I own 3 of the L'oreal Collection Privée Lipsticks. My only complaint about these is the scent. Current Shades: Doutzen's Nude, Jennifer's Nude, and Julianne's Nude.
• I also own 3 of the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick. I did have 7 but I recently sold 4 that I just NEVER really used. Current Shades: Naked, Turn On, and Native.

Cheek Products:

• Nars Blush. I have 6 right now (1 is for sale on Instagram). I love these blushes. The shades are just amazing and they wear well on your cheeks. Current Shades: Orgasm, Deep Throat, Outlaw, Lovejoy, Mata Hari, and Miss Liberty (this one is for sale here!)
• TheBalm Instain Blush. I own 5 of the 6. These are a must-have. I have come to realize I use these more than my beloved, Nars. That's how good they are. If you haven't tried these, invest. They are worth every penny. The color truly lasts all day. Longer than any other blush I've used. I just wish they had more than 6 shades!!! The only shade I'm missing is Lace. Fav.: Houndstooth and Pinstripe. 
• Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick. I have 5. 3 are Limited Edition. These are an amazing drugstore option for cream blush (especially combined with the Maybelline Master Hi-light Blush). Current Shades: (Basic) Coral Sheen and Make a Mauve. (Limited Edition) Nude Rebellion, Enchanting Apricot, Barely Pink. 
• Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. I have 6. 1 is Limited Edition. Current Shades: Nude, Pink Rose, Coral, Mauve, Light Bronze, and Natural (LE).
• MAC Blush. Once again, these are a makeup junkie staple. I have 7 (not including Limited Edition). These blushes are great, though I still love TheBalm Instain blushes more, but the shade range/finish is where MAC wins. Current Shades: Pink Swoon (Discontinued), Gingerly, Margin, Melba, Peaches, Dollymix, and Desert Rose.

Eye Products:

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Singles. I love Urban Decay eyeshadow. I think they blend easily and the color payoff is great. They aren't super powdery, though the glittery shades are INSANELY glittery, you have to be careful with those! Current Shades: Sin, Scratch, Last Call, X, Lounge (Discontinued), Hot Pants (Discontinued), and Shag (Discontinued).
• NYX Hot Singles and Nude Matte shadows. Technically these are two different formulas, but I'm counting them together since they are so similar. I'm still testing these out but I have 4. Current Shades: (Hot Singles) Velvet, Bad Seed, LOL, and (Nude Matte) Dance the Tides.
• MAC Eyeshadow Pans. I have Cough40CoughCoughCough... This is where my eyeshadow collection started, before I found Sephora. Some shades are great, and some are just Meh... If I knew then what Iknow now... I probably wouldn't have 40. Eventually I'll pare down these shadows but I wan't to use the palettes I have made up in my One Month, One Palette project first... To see which shadows I really will use and which ones I can live without. Current Shades: I won't list all 40 shades but I will list my favs.: Expensive Pink, Beauty Marked, Sweet Lust, Copperplate, Mythology, and Cranberry.
• Mac Paint Pots. I have 4. I love these as eye shadow bases or for all over color. Either way they are perfect. Current Shades: Painterly, Soft Ochre, Rubenesque and Bare Study. 
• Maybelline Color Tattoos. I have 4. These are decent for drugstore cream shadows. Lets call a spade, a spade. They are inexpensive (compared to MAC or Makeup Forever or Dior) and you get what you pay for. They aren't my favorite but they do the trick. Current Shades: Tough as Taupe, Inked in Pink, Bold Gold, and Stroke of Midnight (LE).
• BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 4.0. I have 5 of these. These shadows are really good... But I need to use them more. Current Shades: The Happy Place, The Soundtrack, The Designer Label, and The Dream Sequence, The Truth.

Honorable Mentions...

• I have 3 Rimmel ScandalEyes Eye Shadow Sticks. I LOVE these. Great quality at a great price. Current Shades: Bad Girl Bronze, Gossip Queen, Bulletproof Beige.
• I also have all 3 Urban Decay Naked Palettes plus the first Naked Basics Palette. The original is by far my favorite. 

Randoms:

• I own 4 Z-palettes. 2 large and 2 small. LOVE these. If you want to customize your own palette, check these out!
• Brushes I have more than 4 of: MAC, Sigma (I do not recommend), Sonia Kashuk, Real Techniques, EcoTools, and Elf.
• Polishes I have more than 4 of: Zoya, OPI, China Glaze, Essie, Julep, Rimmel, and Revlon.

Yes, I know this is a lot. But makeup is my Happy Place. To each their own... What products do you love? That you've purchased 4 or More of??? Let me know!!! xoxoxo

Tips & Tricks: Preventing Eye Infections

Tips & Tricks: Preventing Eye Infections

There is nothing worse in my opinion than getting an eye infection... (Except maybe a UTI, let's be real here, who can function when a UTI is lingering around?) There are two different infections in general that seem to plague many, Conjunctivitis, a.k.a. Pinkeye, and the dreaded Stye. Both can put a damper on your morning makeup routine (and life in general). However, both can also be caused by what you are putting in, on, and around your eyes. What is conjunctivitis??? And what causes it??? It's inflammation of the thin, clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid, according to WebMD (the Hypochondriac's Bible). It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, irritants, and allergies. All of which can be found in our everyday world... What is a stye??? And what causes it??? A stye is a small, painful lump on the inside or outside of the eyelid. It is an abscess filled with pus and is usually caused by a staphylococcus bacteria eye infection, WebMD. And these hurt, BAD. Here are just a few suggestions for preventing these terrible circumstances from happening to you...

• Don't touch your eyes, duh. And if you really need to touch your eyes for some reason, WASH YOUR HANDS before (and after).
• Replace mascara every 3 months. I know, I know... There are those of us out there who will hold on to mascara for dear life. Especially if they sold a kidney to purchase it. But if you are using it every day, it should be nearly gone or dried out by this point anyway... 
• Don't share eye makeup. You know your mom has already said this. It's true. In this case, Sharing = Caring. (This goes for things like towels and washcloths too.)
• Throw away cream and gel eye products after 6 months of use. It's repetitive, but there is bacteria growing on them.
• Wash your makeup brushes weekly. I also use a daily brush cleaner from Sephora.
• Wash your makeup off, EVERY DAY. That means don't sleep in it. EVER. First of all, gross. But really you're only damaging your skin and possibly causing a <gasp> STYE!!! I use a makeup remover first, and then a cleanser. And then after that....
• I use baby shampoo to scrub my eyelids. Yes, this may seem excessive... Until you've experienced a stye, or two. Baby shampoo is gentle enough that it won't burn your eyes, I  simply mix it with a little warm water and massage it along the base of my lashes (top and bottom) where styes typically occur. The rubbing action is what helps keep the follicles there clear of debris that could potentially clog them and cause a stye. 

For contact lens wearers...

• Replace your contacts when the directions say to! I have a friend (she knows who she is) who will wear a pair of monthly contacts until they have disintegrated inside her eyes. I swear. Don't do this. There is bacteria growing on them. There always will be not matter how well you clean them. And once you place that contact on your eye, there is nowhere else for those little microbes to go.
• Don't sleep with your contacts (unless they say you can). I have yet another friend (who also knows who she is) who used to sleep with her contacts in constantly. Until she almost lost her sight. It's true. Luckily they caught the infection in time but it was an ordeal that she wouldn't wish upon her worst enemy... Wellllll.... Maybe her worst enemy. I kid, I kid!
• Invest in Clearcare (get a $2 off coupon HERE). It is THE best product on the market for cleaning your lenses. I used to get constant infections in my eyes until I started using this product. When I asked my doctor about it, he said WORD-FOR-WORD, "Yea, that's the best stuff you can use. Most doctors don't recommend it because the general population is too lazy and they want something that is quick." Are you kidding?!?! I would rather not be able to use my contacts for eight hours at a time and never get infections, than to be constantly dealing with wanting to scratch my eyeballs out. That, however, is the con with this product... Once you have put your lenses in the case provided and added in the solution you CANNOT wear them for 6-8 hours. This is because it is a hydrogen peroxide solution that will neutralize into saline over time. If you try to wear them too soon, your eyes will burn and you will seriously regret it. It's worth the wait time though. I can attest to it.

I know that this is not your "typical" beauty post, but the things we use CAN and WILL affect us. Makeup can have consequences and taking care of your eyes is important, you need them to read my blog!!! On a serious note, I had a stye about three weeks ago and that is what prompted this blog post. I know exactly how it happened, I felt it happening. I decided to use eyeliner on my waterline about three days in a row (which I don't do often) and when I was cleaning my face the last night I felt a sharp little twinge around my lash line. Sure enough, the next morning I woke up and had a stye. The eyeliner had clogged my follicles. I had gotten lazy and stopped using my baby shampoo to scrub, I haven't forgotten to do that since. I hope this helps at least one person out there, if so I have done my job. xoxoxo.

Finish 4x4 (aka July 4th)

#Finish4x4 or Finish 4 by 4th of July

You may have seen a bunch of these types of videos on YouTube: Finish 6 by Summer, 7 by Spring, 5 by Cinco De Mayo, and so on... Well I decided to join Finish 4x4 (or 4th of July) after watching Amber F's video (watch it HERE) and reading my IG friend, Heather's aka @hmills79, blogpost (read it HERE). I love using up my products and feeling like I got my money's worth... And four items isn't too many to start with. Here is what I chose:

1. Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation. I LOVE this foundation. It feels like nothing on the skin, light to medium coverage, leaves a beautiful dewy finish, I have no complaints. Zero. I only want to use this up because it is paraben free (parabens are the preservatives found in about 90% of cosmetic products that help prevent bacteria from multiplying, dividing, and conquering) and I've had it opened for a while. It is one of my favorites and I would purchase it again... Someday.
2. BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in Rebel. This is a deluxe sample size and it's a decent color. I just don't like lipgloss and have been on a mission for the last year to eliminate it from my makeup collection. Okay, okay... "Eliminate" is a harsh word. Let's say minimize instead. #notalipglossfan
3. Guerlain Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator. I really enjoy using this concealer/brightener. It just adds a lil' extra "oomph" to the skin whenever I use it. I just want to move on and try other things. Unfortunately there is no way for me to track my progress with this one... So hopefully one day I will twist it, and no more will come out. And hopefully that day is before the 4th of July. 
4. Lastly, Rimmel ScandalEyes eyeliner in Black. Nothing to complicated here, just a simple, black, drugstore eyeliner. And I love this liner. And it should be fairly easy to use up. Especially since it needs to be sharpened. After each use (if you like a sharp tip). So this is kinda a "gimme" product. Sue me.

Starting points are marked by black line wherever possible.

Let's see how far I can get or if my opinions on these products change! I am officially starting on April 1st. And I will do a mid-way point check-in sometime in May. Wish me luck!!! xoxoxo.

Have you tried any of these challenges? Join me with this one!!! Let me know in the comments...

It's a Makeup Yard Sale! (Blog Sale)

Recently I went through all my makeup and decided to part with a few things... Not because the aren't good, but because I have too much. And I don't use them. Go ahead and browse but before you do, a couple terms you should know (if you don't already) are:

1. BN- Brand New
2. BNIB- Brand New In Box

Top Left: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Minis. BNIB. Set of 2- $8 ***SOLD***
Top Right: Tarte Minis. Blush in Dollface (swatched 1x), Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess. Set of 2- $12
Bottom Left: Rosebud Salve Lipbalm. BN. Set of 2- $5 ***SOLD***
Bottom right: Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Naked, Midnight Cowboy, Runaway. BN. Set of 3- $12

Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case. BNIB. POWDER PRODUCTS ONLY. $15

Urban Decay Shattered Face Case. BNIB. POWDER PRODUCTS ONLY. $15
I nicked the corner of the highlighter when taking this out of the box to photograph.

Top Left: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lavish Palette. Limited Edition. USED. $20
Top Right: theBalm Overshadow in No Money, No Honey. BNIB. $5
Bottom Left: theBalm Blush in Down Boy. USED. $8
Bottom Right: theBalm Nude'tude. USED. $18 

Top Left: Benefit High Beam. BN. Full size. $15
Top Right: Cargo Contour Palette in Monaco. BN. There is a scratch along the blush, there when I purchased it. $18
Bottom Left: Benefit Blush in Coralista. BN. $15
Bottom Right: Cargo Blush/Bronzer in Coral Beach. Swatched 1x. $10

Top Left: Lorac Pro to Go palette. Used 1-2x. $20
Top Right: Julep Plie Wand System. BNIB. Includes 2 extra brush applicators. $15
Bottom Left: Dior Addict Lipgloss in Princess. Swatched 1x. $15
Bottom Right: MAC Archie's Girls Collection Blush in Cream Soda. Limited Edition. Used 2x. NO BOX. $30

Left: MAC Archie's Girls Collection Lipstick in Ronnie Red. Limited Edition. Swatched 1x. NO BOX. $25***SOLD***
Right: MAC Archie's Girls Collection Lipstick in Betty Bright. Limited Edition. Used 1x. NO BOX. $25***SOLD***

Left: MAC lipliner in Silly. Limited Edition. Swatched 1x.
Right: MAC matte lipstick in Silly. Limited Edition. Swatched 1x.
SELLING AS A SET. $30

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Shimpagne. DISCONTINUED.  Used. $18

MAC blush pan in Pink Swoon. DISCONTINUED. BNIB. $12

Top Left: Pop Rouge Mix Lip & Cheek Portfolio. BNIB. $15
Top Right: Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye palette. Limited Edition.Swatched 1-2x. $12
Bottom Left: Too Faced Glamour to Go Spun Sugar Edition. Two shadows were swatched along with the lip gloss. $12
Bottom Right: BH Cosmetics Professional Blush palette. BN. $8

Top Left: Bobbi Brown Everyday Pretty Lip & Eye palette. BNIB. $20
Top Right: Nars highlighter/blush in Miss Liberty. Swatched 1-2x. $20
Bottom Left: Bite Beauty BB for Lips in Tawny. BN. $12
Bottom Right: Too Faced La Creme lipstick in Nude Beach. BN. $12 

Tarte LipSurgence in Charmed. Swatched 1x. Received this item with the top squished. $10

If you see something you like, let me know! 
The Fine Print...

• Some items are used and will be stated as such. These items will be sanitized before shipping.
• At this time I can only ship within the US.
• Shipping rates start at $6. Rates may vary depending on how many items are purchased. Please contact me if you would like a quote.
• Once sold, items are non-refundable/non-exchangeable.
• The only form of payment accepted will be paypal. 
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Thank you for understanding!!!

One Month, One Palette... (March Edition)

theBalm The Nude'tude Palette

This month I chose to use theBalm's Nude'tude palette. I've had it for a while and never used it. I figured I couldn't go wrong with a nice neutral palette... Ohhhhh, how wrong I was... This was not a favorite. Point blank. And that took me by complete surprise. Here's why:

• There is no "brow-bone" shade. You know... A light, matte, nude-type shade used to highlight the brow bone and add emphasis to your arch... Yea, there's none of that here.
• There is only ONE true crease color. And it's pretty dark. Not good for the fairest of gals.
• The colors just don't "pop" on the lids. And they bored me.
• Some shades are very powdery and would end up dusting the tops of my cheeks as I applied them to my eyes. No, no, no EYESHADOW... You belong on my EYES.
• EmilyNoel83 (amazing YouTuber, check her out!!!) used to recommend this palette allllll the time. So I took her word as gospel.....

Don't get me wrong, this palette isn't terrible. It's just not what I expected. For this month's update, let's go shade by shade...

Sassy- Frosted White. I find that white is just too harsh to work with. I would use this (in combination with Stand-offish or Stubborn to tone it down a bit) as a brow-bone highlight or inner corner highlight. It didn't really work. But I tried. Snobby- Shimmery Yellow Gold. I don't gravitate towards shades like this. I only used this once as an inner corner highlight. Meh. Stubborn- Frosty Pink & Stand-offish- Shimmery Light Pink. These disappointed me. They just don't show up on the lids like Urban Decay's Sin or Stila's Kitten. Stand-offish is so light you can barely see it.

Selfish- Shimmery Taupe. This was my favorite shade. I just loved it. It stands out on the eyes and I couldn't find anything similar in allllllll my other eyeshadows. LOVE. Sultry- Matte, Medium Brown. I used this color in my crease every time but was surprised to see how dark it was. However, it blended easily. Sophisticated- Dark Brown with Shimmer & Seductive (aka Schitzo in some palettes)- Golden Brown with Shimmer. I thought these two were going to be similar to Urban Decay's Smog and Darkhorse. Negative. While Sophisticated swatches very similar to Darkhorse, it doesn't show up the same on the lids. It has no "oomph" (for lack of a better word).

Sexy- Burgundy. I liked this shade, especially to deepen up the outer corner. Silly- Red-Brown with Shimmer. I honestly didn't even bother with this one.  Serious- Black. This looks much darker in the pan than it is when applied. Sleek- Dark Brown-Black. My second favorite shade in this palette. I used this with every look I did. I smudge it under the lash line, in place of eyeliner. It is such a rich deep, dark brown. I love it. It's one flaw is how powdery it is, constant fallout when applying. I feel like such a Debbie Downer... But I just don't love this. Like I said, it's not terrible... It's just not amazing. And I want my shadow to be amazing. Especially for $36. If you have Urban Decay's Naked palette, skip it. If you aren't seriously into neutrals, skip it. Overall, I'd say skip it... UNLESS you see it on sale on Hautelook (they always have theBalm products at a discounted price), then maybe go for it. But don't be surprised if you are as underwhelmed as I was... xoxoxo.

Swatches Top to Bottom: Stubborn (theBalm Nude'tude),
Stand-offish (theBlam Nude'tude),
Sin (Urban Decay Naked),
Kitten (Stila)
Left side WITHOUT flash.
Right side WITH flash.

Swatches Top to Bottom: Sultry (theBalm Nude'tude),
Buck (Urban Decay Naked),
Cork (MAC)
Left side WITHOUT flash.
Right side WITH flash.

Swatches Top to Bottom: Selfish (theBalm Nude'tude)
Chrome (Lorac Pro2)
Left side WITHOUT flash.
Right side WITH flash.

Swatches Top to Bottom: Sophisticated (theBalm Nude'tude),
Seductive (theBalm Nude'tude),
Darkhorse (Urban Decay Naked),
Smog (Urban Decay Naked),
Half Baked (Urban Decay Naked)
Left side WITHOUT flash.
Right side WITH flash.
***Sidenote: In the palette Seductive looks closer to Smog, however, swatched it is more similar to Half Baked.***

Have you tried this palette? Disagree or agree?? Let me know!!! Next month's palette(s): My BareMinerals Quads in The Designer Label, The Soundtrack, The Dream Sequence, and The Happy Place. I need to get some use out of these!!!