Back to Mac #1

Hi everyone! I've been shopping at mac now for two years and I have finally accumulated at least six empties for their back to mac program. Here are my mac empties and what I thought of each product!

 Left to Right: Oil Control Lotion, Studio Sculpt Foundation in NW 15, False Lash Mascara, Brush Cleanser, Haute & Naughty Mascara

Bottom: Blotting Powder Pressed in Medium

 

 

Oil Control Lotion ($31) - This was one of the first purchases I made at mac. I think this is nice for oil control in the summer. This lasted me about a year using it almost everyday. It's worth the money if oil control is important in your daily makeup routine.

Recommend: Yes
Repurchase: No 

Studio Sculpt Foundation in NW 15 ($31) - This was the first mac foundation that I've tried. I definitely prefer matchmaster for the simple fact that it is a better color match. NW 15 was too dark for me. The consistency and staying power is nice, however this isn't the best foundation for the fair individuals. 

Recommend: If you can find the correct color match - yes.
If you are fairer than NW 15 - no.
Repurchase: No

False Lashes Mascara ($20) - This was the first mascara I've purchased from mac and my favorite so far. It is what I look for in a mascara - super black, lengthening, and volumizing.

Recommend: Yes
Repurchase: Yes

Brush Cleanser ($14) - This is a very basic item to have in your makeup kit. I've only used the mac version, but I think this gets the job done. It lasts for quite a while as well. I've repurchased this once and will be repurchasing in the future.

Recommend: Yes
Repurchase: Yes

Haute & Naughty Mascara ($20) - This is a nice concept for a mascara with two brushes that do two different things. One is more of a natural look, while the other is a fuller and thicker look. I rarely used the smaller, more natural brush because I'm a fan of big and bold lashes!

Recommend: If you like both natural and dramatic looks - yes.
If you like dramatic looks all the time - no.
Repurchase: No

Blot Powder Pressed ($24) - This is a nice powder to have if you have oily skin. I did find that this product reduced the shine. This lasted me about a year and a half. I think for the price and results, this is a good product if that is what you are looking for.

Recommend: Yes
Repurchase: No

 

I've started another batch of back to mac items which hopefully won't take me two years to collect! I will feature those items in another installment of my back to mac blog series.

 

What do you recommend getting when you back to mac? Lipstick? Lipglass? Eyeshadow?

 

 

XOXO

january haul (makeup edition)

Here is another edition of my january haul. I clearly spent too much money this month! This is my makeup version of my haul. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think if you own these items. I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

new to my collection (makeup edition) by ladyem2 featuring lancôme

1.)I went to my local mac counter to get another tube of my nw 15 studio sculpt foundation. The makeup artist that was working suggested another foundation and concealer. The only concealer I've tried were drug store - one liquid and one mineral. I never liked either of them so I decided to skip concealer in general from then on. I would just apply another layer of foundation to build up the coverage to what I like. The makeup artist tried this on me and I loved it. It's a bit drying at times on my blemishes, however with moisturizer it's not too bad. So far I like it. I'm in the shade nw 15 for this concealer.

2.) At the same time that I bought the mac concealer, the makeup arist also suggested a different foundation. As mentioned before, I was using the studio sculpt foundation in nw 15. When I first bought it I was slightly tanner (in summer) so it worked fine. However, I've lost some tan in my face so it would look like foundation rather than skin. I love this foundation so much more than the studio sculpt. The matchmaster in 1.0 is definitely my shade right now that I'm so pale. My face doesn't usually tan so this should work for a few months. It's very light-weight, however it has a strange smell when you put it on. You can't smell it throughout the day though, which is good.

3.) I wanted to try the too faced perfect eyes waterproof eyeliner since I heard rachel whitehurst on youtube rave about it. I was browsing the sephora website buying other stuff when I needed to add one more small item to get free shipping. I saw this mascara-eyeliner set for only $10 and had to try it out. I haven't tried the mascara yet (which is lash injection at $21 full size), because I like to only have one mascara open at a time. I will let you know how I like it when I try it out! I have tried the eyeliner (which is normally $18 for a full size). I like it so far. It will usually stay on for a few hours for me. However, my eyes water a lot so it doesn't last all day on me. I got my eyebrows threaded yesterday and the eyeliner didn't survive. I'm not sure if I would buy this at full price.

4.) I've wanted to try out lancome products for a while now. I've heard about these products from youtubers like rachel whitehurst and carly cristman. The mascara (hypnose star $28) and the eyeliner (art liner $30) are both full size! This also came with deluxe samples of their eye makeup remover (bi-facil full size $28) and mascara base (cils booster xl full size $24). I got all of this for $34 (or $4 more than the liner). So far I've only tried the eyeliner and the makeup remover, which are both really nice! The makeup remover is so unbelievably gentle! I've never used one that doesn't require some tugging at my eye. I may buy the full bottle when this is empty. The eyeliner is really nice, however I haven't decided yet if I would buy another to replace this one. It would probably have to depend on how long a full size one lasts me. This is my first high-end liquid eyeliner pen. I've used drugstore versions in the past and they were a waste of money in my opinion.

5.) I'm not sure who inspired me to want to try korres lip butters, but this seemed like a great way to try them out. I got three full size lip butters(normally $12 each) and three full dize lip butter glazes (normally $14 each). If I had bought all this seperately I would have spent $78 rather than the $39 I spent online at sephora. I wanted to try the lip butters because I've heard that they are really moisturizing for the lips and smell amazing. They are both of those things, however they didn't leave my lips moisturized for as long as I had hoped. I have really dry and chapstick-addicted lips. I'm hoping to find a solution to both of those problems, however korres is not it. These are really nice though. I would recommend these as a nice lip balm. These are subtle enough for anyone who likes colored lips (like coral and red) but can't pull that off. In case you were wondering what flavors I have, lip butters -- guava, pomegranate, quince and lip butter glazes -- jasmine, raspberry, wild rose.

Let me know what you think of these items if you already own them and use them. I would love to know, especially on the products I haven't opened and tried yet. What makeup products did you buy this month?

XOXO

August 2012 Haul

Hi everyone! Since I'm on my "no nonsense makeup ban" I only have a few new makeup additions. I wanted to switch up my foundation routine and so far I'm loving it.

Updated Foundation Routine of 2012:
http://hopefulheart27.blogspot.com/2012/08/updated-foundation-routine-of-2012_23.html

Foundation Routine of 2011:
http://hopefulheart27.blogspot.com/2011/06/daily-routine-as-of-06282011.html

I'm also changing my skin care routine up a little. I will be purchasing a few more things next month so keep an eye out for a blog post about my updated skin care routine.

 

 Skin Care Shopping List:
http://hopefulheart27.blogspot.com/2012/08/skincare-shopping-list.html

Old Skin Care Routine of 2012:
http://hopefulheart27.blogspot.com/2012/02/blogruary-day-4-my-skin-care-routine.html

 

Makeup:

MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation in NW 15 ($30 for 1.3 fl. oz.)

 

MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush ($42)

ULTA Tinted Lipbalm in Shimmer (FREE with ULTA Rewards normally $6)

 

Skin Care:

 

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes ($6.99 for 30 ct.)

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover ($5.99 for 3.8 fl. oz.)

 Swisspers 100% Cotton Rounds ($ unknown for 100 ct.)

 

What did you buy this month?
XOXO

August 2012 Favorites

Here is a list of the things that I've been loving in the month of August and why I love them!

 

 

MAC Cut a Caper Lipstick ($14.50 now $15)

This lipstick came out with the Heavenly Creature collection, however it was a repromote. I've been loving this shade! When I first received it in the mail, I wasn't sure if I would like it since it looked ORANGE in the tube. I'm glad I kept this since I've been wearing it almost every day. Since it's a lustre, this is a nice everyday color for any occasion.


MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation ($30)
This is the first 'liquid' foundation that I've ever liked. I've used liquid many years ago, however it never truely looked good or stayed all day. I switched to mineral foundation for a few years and was 90% happy with the look and staying power. This foundation is more of a gel like consistency compared to other liquid foundations. I find that this stays all day if I set it with my MAC blot powder. I haven't tried it without the blot powder though since I tried applying it with a brush rather than my hands. This did not stay very long on my face when I applied it with my hands.


MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush ($42)
I bought this brush after trying and failing to apply my new foundation with my hands. I was planning to get either the 109 or 188, however the MUA recommended this one if I want full coverage (which I do). So far this brush sheds very minimally.


Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in Walking on Eggshells ($2.99)
I bought this eyeshadow trio at CVS a few months back, used it once or twice, and then forgot about it. I rediscovered it this month and I have been using it almost everyday. It's a nice look for back to school in my opinion since it's very neutral and natural looking.


Harry Potter
I've decided that while I'm on my summer break from school, I would rewatch all of the Harry Potter movies. Some of them I've seen more than once and some of them I haven't seen since they came out in movie theaters.


Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together'
I absolutely love Taylor Swift and any song she writes. I've become obsessed with her new song after hearing a lip dub version on YouTube from NikkiPhillippi.



What have you been loving this month?
XOXO
 

Updated Foundation Routine of 2012

It's been awhile since I've done a foundation routine blog post. The last one I did was June of 2011. While getting the items together, I was surprised that all but one item (a brush) was from MAC. I didn't realize that my foundation routine consisted of only MAC products. This does not include blush and/or bronzer since I switch my blush up frequently and rarely wear bronzer.

 

 

Primer:

MAC Oil Control Lotion ($31 for 1.7 fl. oz.)

applied with clean hands

 

 

Foundation:

MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation in NW 15 ($30 for 1.3 fl. oz.)

applied with MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush ($42)

 

 

Powder:

MAC Blot Powder Pressed in Medium ($24 for 0.42 fl. oz.)

applied with  Eco Tools Bamboo Bronzer Brush ($12.59)

 

 

Reviews for individual products:

 coming soon

 

 

Updated skin care routine of 2012:
coming soon

 

 

Last foundation routine:
http://hopefulheart27.blogspot.com/2011/06/daily-routine-as-of-06282011.html 

 

What's your foundation routine of 2012?

XOXO

August 2012 Shopping List

Hi everyone.

Since deciding to start my "no nonsense makeup ban", I've changed my august shopping list.

Various Foundations:

Clinique Stay Matte Foundation ($23 for 1 fl. oz.)

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation ($27 for 1 fl. oz.)

MAC Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation ($33 for 1.18 fl. oz.)
MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation ($30 for 1.3 fl. oz.)


I've wanted to switch my foundation for awhile now, so I figured I would get some samples and buy a new one before I start school again in September.


Mascara:
MAC Plush Lash ($16)
MAC Opulash ($16)

I'm almost out of my bottle of False Lashes. I was going to repurchase it, however I think I'll try a different one. Plush Lash is $4 cheaper and contains 1 gram more than False Lashes. Opulash is $4 cheaper and contains 3 grams more than False Lashes.

I'm going to be posting a separate back to school shopping list soon. Keep your eyes open for that.



What is on your shopping list?
XOXO

June 2012 Haul

Hi everyone! Here is a blog post about this months purchases. Many of the items were on my June Shopping List blog post, while others were not. I apologize for the crappy quality pictures. I may need to start using my camera rather than my phone's camera.

MAC blush in Peony Petal - this blush is beautiful! I originally wanted it when it came out with the Tres Cheek collection, however I couldn't justify buying 3 blushes from that collection at one time. I normally buy makeup in store, however this product wasn't available at any of the locations near me. This was my first purchase that I bought on their website.






Planner - I love shopping for new planners every year. I usually buy this brand of planners at Office Max for $20. However, I found this one for $10 at Target! I buy the ones that are July to June rather than January to December. Planners keep me really organized while I'm in school.







Headbands - I've been wanting a pearl headband for a while now and I finally found one at my local Charming Charlies. These two headbands came in a pack for $8. They look so preppy and summery!

 Scarf - I fell in love with this scarf when I saw it at Charming Charlies. It's very cute and lightweight. This is perfect for all year round, especially in the spring and summer.







Tumbler - I am in love with this tumbler. I found it at a local store for only $3. I saw a few online that I loved however they were pretty expensive. This is great for this time of year to drink lemonade or water.







Clarisonic Mia - This was a spur of the moment kind of purchase. I've wanted this for months and months, however I thought I would wait to buy this until Christmas since the price tag is so high! However, I received a 20% of coupon from Ulta in the mail and I finally decided to buy it. I knew I wanted to buy it either with an Ulta coupon like that or during Sephora's Friends & Family sale. I cannot wait to use this!



L'oreal True Match Natural Mineral Foundation and Finishing Powder - I have repurchased these products multiple times. I have lost count how many bottles I have went through. I bought the foundation shade 456 (soft ivory).

What have you bought this month?

XOXO

JULY - AUGUST 2010 SHOPPING LIST

Hi everyone! This is my current shopping list. Meaning, these are items that I definitely want to buy in the near future. I will be doing reviews for everything that I do buy. Let me know if you have tried any of these items and how you liked them.

1. MAKE UP FOR EVER Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation in No. 25 Warm Ivory

Although this is more expensive than my traditional drugstore foundations ($34.00 @ Sephora), you definitely get what you pay for. When I went into Sephora a couple weeks ago, I got color matched for this foundation and the NARS Sheer Matte Foundation. After taking home a sample of each and trying them out, I definitely loved the MUFE foundation better. Which is good for my wallet, because the NARS foundation is $42.00.

2. Essense of Beauty Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Non-Oily

I first heard about this makeup remover from blogger The Makeup Drawer. Definitely go check her out for really in depth and honest reviews on a variety of makeup products. While it might not work for her because she has dry skin, I think this will work great for me. I have normal-to-oily skin, in my opinion, so this non-oily formula will be amazing. And at $5.99 at CVS, this product won't hurt my wallet if I don't like it.

3. Evian Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray

This is another item that I found interesting after reading a review from the blogger The Makeup Drawer. This facial spray can be found at drugstores, Target, and Sephora. According to TMD, this facial spray ranges from $6.00 for 1.7 oz, $10.00 for 5 oz, and $15.00 for 10.1 oz. According to her, this facial spray can compete with MAC's Fix + and win. I definitely think that this is something to check out whether you like/use MAC's Fix + or not.

4. Portable Eyelash Curler
What first drew me to this item was how cute it was. While I haven't researched this product as much as I normally research items I am interested in, this seems like something good to have when you are either traveling or out for the night. It is definitely something that I can see myself throwing in my purse. For $5.00 at CVS, you can't go wrong with this.

5. Urban Decay Naked Palette

This is definitely the most expensive and the most exciting item that I have on my list. At $44.00, this palette has the perfect neutral shades and a mini Urban Decay Primer Potion. If you are interested in this palette, definitely don't let the price tag scare you. These shadows are the same size as UD single shadows. So you can either buy 2-3 shadows at $17.00 each or this cute palette for around the same price. Plus, you get to try the UDPP, which I've been wanting to try for a while now. Unfortunately, this palette sells out fast at Sephora.com. Try to snag this palette at your local Sephora or Ulta store or at Ulta.com. Definitely don't try to get this palette from ebay. This palette is selling for twice, sometimes three times, it's actual price.