US Beauty Haul!

I came home to the US about 2 weeks ago and since then, I've definitely taken advantage of the cheaper beauty products.  I made orders to MAC, Sephora, and Nordstrom; leaving the sites with my checking balance low, but my expectation high.  Let's start off with MAC...

The first things I got were two of the new palettes (although, they're not so new anymore).  I like that they have a clear top, which I think will help me to gravitate towards it more than I did with the plain, black top of the old palettes.  I decided to get the 15-Eyeshadow Palette ($18) along with the insert ($9) and then a 2-Eyeshadow Palette ($9) for Omega and Charcoal Brown Eyeshadows for my eyebrows.

I also decided to get four new eyeshadows, which means I now have a completed MAC palette!  I decided to get Brun, Sable, Grain, and Malt ($12 each in the pan).  Brun is a dark brown, almost black shade; Sable is a bronzey-red shade, which looks so gorgeous with any beige-toned eyeshadows; Grain is a warm-beige shade; and Malt is a matte, pinky-beige.  I'm totally in love with all of these shades, so I'm so happy with those!

I also picked up the cult-classic: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack ($16).  I've never tried gel eyeliner before, so I was very apprehensive about ordering this.  However, I've found this so easy to work with, so long-lasting, and definitely easier to apply than liquid liner - I'm officially converted!  I also picked up the MAC Kohl in Coffee ($16), as it's always so popular online.  I haven't used it yet, as I haven't been able to put down the gel eyeliner, but I'm very excited to give it a go!  I also got the MAC Brow Set in Clear ($16).  I've never tried a brow gel before, so I sort of just threw this in at the last moment.  Once again, I'm very happy with this purchase.  It makes my brows look so much nicer: more natural, also they last longer, too, which is always a plus!

Finally from MAC, I picked up MAC Fix + in the mini-size ($10).  Again, I've heard a lot about this, but have never tried it, so I was simply curious.  The spray is a little heavy for my taste, but it is really refreshing, and it does help to counteract over-powdering.  I also picked up two brushes, the MAC 209 Eye Liner Brush ($20) for the gel liner (golden), and the MAC 266 Small Angle Brush ($20), which I use for filling my brows in with powder.  Both brushes are fantastic, and decently priced (at least, for MAC). 

I also made an order from Sephora, and that's what happened.  

Firstly, I picked up the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm ($28.50).  This is Caroline Hirons approved, and was about half the price of the Emma Hardie one, so I thought I'd give it a go.  It's fantastic.  It's maybe not quite as good as the Emma Hardie one, but you really can't beat the price - ballin' on a budget (not really), am I right?

I also picked up the Origins No Puffery ($25).  I was looking for a cooling gel to use on my eyes in the mornings, and this looked like a good route to take.  Then I added the Clinique Super City Block SPF 40 ($22).  I needed an SPF for my face, and I wanted something stronger than the Clarins SPF 30 I was using, and this looked like something I would enjoy.  I do like it, my only gripe is that it's kind of small, you only get 40ml, so I feel like I'm going to use it up quick, which is annoying.  I also got the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50), as it saved my lips a few months back and I recently ran out of the Caudalie Lip Balm (which I also like).  One other slightly random purchase I made was the Sephora A Step Ahead Foot Smoother ($12).  My feet are in need of a little TLC, to say the least, so I figured this was a pretty cost-efficient way to work on that.  I have tried it, and it was fantastic.  It really smoothed out my feet, so I'm quite impressed with this!

I also couldn't not purchase a bit of make-up.  I decided to get the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Natural Beauty ($26).  I love Tarte Exposed and I'm hoping to love this one just as much.  It's everything I wanted Dior Rosy Glow to be (and so much cheaper).  It's the exact same shade as my natural flush, it's uncanny.  It also looks so good with Strawberry-toned lips (Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry - just sayin').

Then I threw in a couple Nails Inc. Nail Polishes in Queen Victoria Street, an emerald shade, and Green Park, a slate blue-green ($9.50 each).  They both look like gorgeous colors for this time of year.  I'm sure they'll be featured in Nail of the Day Posts soon enough!

Finally, I made an order from Nordstrom for a few new Burberry Beauty bits.  You know I can't resist Burberry Beauty.  It's by far my favorite beauty brand, high or low-end.  The quality, the scent, and the value for money even, is unreal!

The first thing I opted for was the new Burberry 'Fresh Glow' Luminous Highlighting Powder in No. 01 Nude Radiance ($48).  This is basically Burberry Fresh Glow, liquid highlight/primer, but in powder form.  It's quite neutral-toned, a pinky-champagne shade, and it's subtle, but still noticeable.  Along the same lines as the Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight in pigmentation.  It was recently released with their Summer Collection, and I would highly recommend picking this up while you can, as I'm not sure whether it's limited edition or not!

I also picked up another Burberry Eyeshadow in No. 10 Antique Rose ($29).  It's a mauve shade, with a hint of brown to it.  A gorgeous shade, that I think will look great during this time of year.  Plus, you really can't beat Burberry eyeshadows (or Burberry anything, for that matter).

Finally, I picked up the Burberry Lip Cover in No. 32 Sepia Pink ($30).  This was released in the A/W12 Collection, and I actually went on a hunt through London to find it, but it was sold out in the entire city.  So, when I saw this was in stock, I knew it had to be mine!  I thought this was limited edition, but maybe it was added to the permanent line?  I'm not quite sure, but once again, it's love.  I haven't put this lipstick down since I got it, it's darker than my natural lip shade, but I can still wear it to work without looking ridiculous, which is honestly all I look for in lipsticks these days!

Whew!  That's it for this haul.  Congratulations if you made it to the end of this post!  It was quite long, I know.  

Have you picked up any new things recently?  What's on your wishlist?

Also, if you are looking for some new beauty bits, why not check out my Blog Sale?  I have a lot of barely used products that need to go!  Please check it out and hopefully you'll find something you like.

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July Beauty Favorites

July has now come to an end, and for me it’s quite bittersweet.  I recently moved back to the US from Germany, which is something both exciting and very sad.  Although I’ll miss Germany a lot, I’m happy to be home – especially as I’m sure I’ll be back in Germany next Summer!  Now, onto the favorites…

I made a couple of naughty purchases this month, and a lot of the products have become staples.   The first new love of my life is the Stila In the Light Palette ($39) (review here).  Seriously, this palette is amazing!  Every color is wearable and blends like butter.  It also comes with an eyeliner, which is also fantastic.  It’s such a great value for money – highly recommend.  However, I’ve also come down with a bad bought of hay fever this month.  So on the days when my eyes were too sensitive for much eye make-up, I opted just for the L’Oreal Lineur Intense ($9).  I normally stay far away from liquid liner, but the fact that I can actually use this, is unreal.  I suck at applying eyeliner, so this is really saying something – though I do still need to be careful, it can still easily go very, very wrong.  I've also been loving this sample of the Buxom Amplified Lash Mascara ($19).  It's a plastic wand, which I normally hate, but the cool thing is is that it can be adjusted from a wand with more dispersed bristles, for lengthening, and a wand with bristles that are closer together, for volume, which is really cool.  I do really like this mascara, but I'm not quite sure whether I'll be purchasing the full-sized version or not.

Swatches: Left - Guerlain Bronzer, Right - NARS Penny Lane

I’ve also been enjoying using the NARS Penny Lane Cream Blusher ($29).  It’s the longest-wearing cream blusher I own, and it’s also probably the most natural blush I own.  The peachy-tone gives a really natural glow to the cheeks, and because it is so natural, it makes it quite difficult to overdo.  Not a clown in sight when I pull this stuff out.  I’ve also been setting that with the Guerlain Terracotta Sheer Bronzer in 02 Blondes ($51) (review here).  This is probably the sheerest bronzer I’ve ever used, but again, you really can’t overdo it.  This isn’t for contouring or adding definition or anything like that, this is simply for a natural, warm glow to the face, which it definitely delivers.

Swatch of YSL Dewy Papaya

As for lips, I’ve been keeping it simple this month.  It was far too horrifically hot in Europe for anything heavy on the lips (or in any make-up department really), so I’ve been opting for a couple of different options.  This first one is the YSL Volupté Sheer Candy in 02 Dewy Papaya ($34).  Although not massively pigmented, it works so well with this warm, natural make-up look I’ve been trying to go for this month.  It’s a sheer, peachy-shade, and besides the lovely color, it’s also very hydrating and smells so good!  I’ve used over half of this tinted lip balm in just this month alone!  I’ve also really been loving the Caudalie Lip Conditioner ($14).  I’ve recently discovered that my Burt’s Bees wasn’t cutting it anymore, so I decided to try something new.  This lip balm is so hydrating, and goes on so smoothly to the lips.  I definitely think this is just as good as the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments, plus it’s about $9 cheaper!  My only gripe with it, is that there’s no SPF, which is massively disappointing and could even keep me from repurchasing.

My final favorite is a perfume (of course).  Since I recently moved, I packed up most of my makeup and perfumes at the beginning of the month, leaving only one or two of each type of product in my daily make-up stash.  The perfume that I left out for use was Dior Addict Shine EDT (sadly discontinued).  It is just the nicest, citrusy-fresh summer scent.  I absolutely love it, but part of me also hates to use it, because it is, unfortunately, discontinued.  I did have a poke around and still found some bottles floating on Amazon, but it’s not sold in store anymore.  Seriously, Dior, bring this back!

What have you been loving this month?  Are you also loving the natural, glowy Summer look like I am?

Also - I just want to mention that I'm now having a Blog Sale!  I'm trying to get rid of the makeup that I pretty much never use, so everything is in really good condition.  I'd love for you to check it out, if you're interested.

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Blog Sale | Burberry, Dior, MAC, Chanel, NARS, YSL, Etc.

Items Sold:

Dior Cherie Bow Blush in 659 Coral Tender (LE)
NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Isolde
MAC Craving Lipstick
MAC Sheertone Blush in Pinch Me
Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 04 Gold Trench
NARS Laguna Bronzer
Sleek Face Form in Fair
Sleek Oh So Special Palette
MAC Lustre Lipstick in Ladybug
MAC Lustre Lipstick in On Hold
YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in 13 Pink in Paris
Diorskin Shimmer Star in 001 Rose Diamond
Diorskin Shimmer Star in 002 Amber Diamond
NARS Douceur Blush
YSL Glossy Stain in 29 Rose Fourreau
Burberry Lip Cover in No. 06 Nutmeg
Sephora Ultra-Smoothing Primer
Stila Mulholland Drive Eyeshadow Set
MUA Undress Me Too Palette
MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick
MAC Patisserie Lipstick
Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in 52
Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Lush Nectarine
Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush

Stila In the Light Palette Review

I’m a bit of an Eyeshadow fiend – I have more than can ever be used in one lifetime, but I can’t help myself, it’s one of my makeup vices (alongside blush and lipstick that is).  I tend to flit quite easily from one eyeshadow to the next, never using one shade/palette for too long. However, one of my most recent eyeshadow purchases, see haul post here, has made quite an impression on me – the Stila In the Light Palette ($39).

Let me say this first – I’m sure there isn’t a person out there who isn’t already stocked up to the brim with neutral eyeshadow palettes, but this one is definitely one to look at, even with all three Urban Decay Naked Palettes in your stash.

The buttery formulation of this palette rivals even that of the Urban Decay palettes.  The shadows slide on easily to the lid, the brush picks up the nicely pigmented product without ever picking up too much product, and despite the heavily shimmer-friendly palette this appears to be, it doesn’t ever look like it’s too much on the eyes.  The palette comes with 10 full-size eyshadows and an eyeliner.

I haven’t gotten a chance to use all 10 eyeshadows yet, but I have used every shade except for Night Sky (but I can see myself using that for a smoky eye) so far, and I have yet to be disappointed by any of them.  The palette is made up of about 5 lighter colors, which are great for everyday wear, and then are about 5 darker colors, which are great for adding into the outer corner for a natural smoky eye during the day, or can be used together for a night-out.  I also like using two of the darker eyeshadows (Luster & Ebony) in place of eyeliner, if you want a softer way to define the lashes. Speaking of eyeliner: I’m also head over heels in love with this eyeliner!  It’s in the shade Damsel, which is a very dark brown, almost a black-brown.  It smudges easily into the lashline (if you act quick) and lasts all day!  I imagine that it would last well on the waterline, too, but I’ve never tried that, so I can’t be sure.

Here are a few of my favorite combinations:

1.       Bare, Kitten, & Bliss

2.       Kitten, Bliss, & Sunset

3.       Bare, Bubbly, & Sandstone

It really is an amazing value for money, I can’t recommend it enough.  So, if you’re in the market for a new neutrals palette (aren’t we all?), give this one a swatch!

Longevity: 5/5
Pigmentation: 5/5

Packaging: 4/5

Texture: 5/5

Application: 5/5

Value For Money: 4.5/5 

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Have you tried the Stila shadows before? What’s your favorite Neutrals palette?

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