Something I used to do a lot a few months ago (before my life sort of changed) was get intricate with my nail designs. Ever since, I either haven’t had time or gave up on it.
Does this mean my life has officially gone back to normal? I wouldn’t call this intricate by any means, but I’m glad that I’m getting back into the things I love. Blogging included.
Max doesn’t look like he cares very much, but I forgive him.
I think this is the first time I’ve actually gone through my entire makeup collection on a blog post! To see my previous makeup set-up in the old apartment, check out this post.
My new place has much less storage space, as you can see, so my makeup now has an entire shelf to itself.
A quick disclaimer — I use makeup to look my best. I really don’t tend to experiment or have a color for every occasion. I’ve seen collections that make my head spin. These are mostly items I use on a daily basis. In other words, my collection isn’t much of a collection!
Click here for image notes and to see where everything is located.
Eyes:
ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer: I love this stuff. I’ve never tried any other eye primer, but I don’t really need to. This makes everything stay on all day without smudging. However, it does have a harder time with cream shadows if application is heavy. It also looks great on it’s own to brighten the eyes.
Maybelline The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara: I hated purchasing this, because I don’t like supporting companies that test on animals. Tarte still makes my absolute favorite mascaras, but the price hurts my wallet too much! I’ve tried ELF mascara, but I didn’t like the formula. Any mascara suggestions for great volume?
Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadows: I only use the browns, but they’re awesome as a base, alone, or together for a nice simple wash of color on the lid.
Revlon Colorstay 12-Hour Eye Shadow: If I do my eye makeup, I usually use all of these and blend for a nice rosy look. Easy to both create a smoky eye and keep it daytime friendly, whichever I choose.
ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit: Perfect for defining my brows. I highly recommend it, and it’s only $3!
ELF Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara: I use the brow gel occasionally, and the lash gel when I want to curl my lashes but don’t want to wear mascara. This isn’t used too often, but it works well.
ELF Mineral Lipstick in Nicely Nude: More of a fleshy pink color than a nude. Just the right amount of color if I feel like wearing low-key lipstick.
ELF Conditioning Lip Balm SPF 15: This is a neutral tint and feels super slick as a balm, I love wearing it! It’s very hydrating for the summer.
Revlon Lipstick in Cherries Now: My staple red lipstick. Both Revlon and ELF have wonderful lipsticks! It took me a while to find the right red for my skin tone.
Estee Lauder Glosses: I received these for Christmas. A bit too much glitter, but they’re so pretty! I’d only use them at night.
Yes to Carrots Balm: Perfect neutral with a minty flavor. Another go-to for every day!
Revlon Color Burst in Peach Parfait (Sample): This sample came with my free Target Beauty Bag. I have Revlon Colorburst in Creamsicle as well (in my bag). These have a little too much glitter for me, but they’re still fun.
Face:
Benefit Boi-ing Concealer: I always rave about this concealer. I’m almost completely out of it at this point. It works best as a highlight and under the eyes.
Rimmel London Blush: I adore this rosy blush. It has just a hint of bronze, and gives a very sun kissed look that isn’t too glittery. I just wish I didn’t have to layer it so much for the color payoff. It also doesn’t last long. Once I finish it, I will be on the hunt for a longer lasting blush with better color payoff int he same shade.
Tarte 12-Hour Blush in Amused: This blush will stay on all day and is highly pigmented. I love it! Unfortunately, Tarte doesn’t really have a color that even comes close to my Rimmel’s bronze look.
Too Faced Primed and Poreless: It allows for fantastic application as a primer, but it doesn’t reduce my pores at all. (In fact, I suspect it clogs.) It’s very heavy, and that puts me off as well. I don’t recommend it, it’s not worth the price.
Loreal Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer: I have a huge problem with hyper-pigmentation (if I have a breakout, it’ll leave a red spot on my skin for weeks.) This helps cancel out the red, so I use it on certain spots if I have to.
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Buff: I had to toss my ELF Tinted Moisturizer because it was irritating my skin. So far, this has been absolutely amazing. It’s medium to full coverage and feels completely weightless. It’s my favorite! I may try the whipped formula next.
This blog entry was posted in Beauty, My Home on Aug 04 2012.
Did you know that items and services marketed towards women tend to be more expensive? (Source) That’s right, apparently society thinks it’s okay to charge women more because we’re more likely to pay more for the same items.
Next time you’re buying deodorant or a shaving razor, look at the men’s section and compare. Don’t be too shocked that you’re paying more!
Personally, I think we need to give a big “shove it” to the man.
Begin looking at what you’re spending on beauty and try to cut down. Here are some ways you can still enjoy being a woman, but spend a little less.
1. Cut your own hair.
This isn’t as scary as you think it is!
It’s very easy to do if you have longer hair, which is another reason why I consider longer hair to be more minimalist and easy to maintain.
Do your research first. Make sure you have the right materials, and follow a guide.
My favorite tutorial is this one on YouTube, which I have been using with amazing results! This saves me a lot of money and aggravation over bad hair stylists. (I’m cursed.)
2. Stop dying your hair.
This is a given. Dying requires a lot of upkeep and it damages your hair. It also continually takes money out of your wallet, plus you need to buy extra beauty products to heal the damage.
It’s nice to dye for a change, but if you’re short on cash it’s best just to skip this. Growing it out is a pain, too!
3. Check for duplicates.
Sometimes you can buy a cheaper alternative to an expensive beauty product without sacrificing the results. These are usually called “dupes” within the beauty community.
Look around for these duplicates by doing trial and error yourself, or by doing some research online.
Need a new beauty product, but can’t afford to waste your money on a bad purchase? Always read reviews on a product first to save yourself time and money.
I highly recommend a community like Makeup Alley. I never buy anything without checking there first, and it’s saved me so much money!
5. Stalk for sales.
Mark the big sales on your calendar and save up for them.
For example, you can get away with making a wishlist of more expensive products and waiting for Black Friday (or Boxing Day) sales, seasonal sales, or any quarterly specials a store may have every year.
This way you’ll save big and you’ll still get what you want. This requires the patience of waiting for the sale, but pays off big.
6. Clip coupons.
Saving up coupons and being aware of coupon regulations at your favorite store will help you save money on beauty products.
For example, it’s easy to get drugstore makeup on discount by combining manufacturer coupons with store discounts at places like CVS and Walgreens.
ULTA is another example — you can use ULTA coupons on drugstore makeup to pay less.
7. Try DIY.
There are so many great DIY alternatives out there that you can create with household items.
Welcome to the first entry in my Simple Style series!
I do a lot of “window browsing” online, and sometimes I like to come up with inspirational mood boards. I figured why not put together some of my favorite “wishlist” outfits to share?
My style is, of course, minimalist and neutral with pops of color.
I’m no fashionista by any stretch, but I hope this will inspire outfits that stick to the basics. I think it’s important to invest in key pieces and saving some money on others.
For example, in this combination I’d splurge on the watch and handbag, because they can definitely go with many other outfits.
Something I used to do a lot a few months ago (before my life sort of changed) was get intricate with my nail designs. Ever since, I either haven’t had time or gave up on it.
