Well, friends, Maybelline went and did it again for me!

I was tempted by MAC’s $14.50 lipstick… but not anymore

Their new collections had me all raring to go buy 2 fun summer colors: Girl About Town (part of their permanent line) and Watch Me Simmer (which has been around twice recently but always sells out!).

Here’s Maybelline’s Color Sensational “Fifth Ave Fuschia” dupe for Girl About Town on my NC35 skin:

$8 for Fifth Ave Fuchsia versus $14+ for MAC’s Girl About Town

Our next favorite is the color of the season! Coral! You can wear it sheer, medium or deep… to a tangerine shade… either way, it’s popular.  I, myself, have a collection of corals that make me very happy and summery

I just purchased the Maybelline Coral Crush to dupe MAC’s Watch Me Simmer… and yes! It’s a winner!

Maybelline Coral Crush $8 instead of MAC Watch Me Simmer for $14+

There you go.  And Maybelline’s formulas definitely rival MACs, in my opinion. No, you’re not getting the yummy vanilla-scent, but it’s not bothersome like (REVLON, cough cough) many other drugstore brands. Plus, their color selection is definitely keeping with the trends lately.

What dupes have you found lately? Share!

Well ladies and gentleman, a quick update for you…

I have completed my 90 day workout program and with that… was tracking my 90 days worth of product usage…

TOTALING: $202.23 worth of products!!

This does not mean i did not buy any products these last 90 days… but i was VERY selective and conscious. I’d say it was a ‘low buy.’

It’s nice to keep track of what you’re using up though. It makes you feel more accomplished and that you’re not wasting money. USE, ladies! This is why we buy! Many times, I use product sparingly so it lasts forever… but really, that’s not the point. The point is to enjoy it! So if i wanted to use 6 pumps of body wash… let’s do it! Want to pack on the shadow or need an extra bit of powder… DO IT! This is why we buy.

I’m going to continue to write down what i’m spending… i definitely have some things I want to finish up soon!

Let me know if anyone would like me to save the items I finish up and review them in an upcoming video

-SPJAH

Lots of new fun things this month!

My experience with these 3 face products in my opinion:

 

The hot new girl in school:  BB Creams. 
What is it:  A tinted moisturizer with a bit more pigment and a lot more additives that claim to do a plethora of great things: whiten and brighten skin, anti age your skin, super protect it from the sun, even skin tone… add radiance, etc etc. Basically, a miracle worker.
How it feels: VERY creamy. I’ve tried a few and they’re all very nice in texture and blend-able. Not heavy feeling.
What it really does: FOR ME… broke me out to all hell.  I have very sensitive, acne prone skin and even the BB Creams targeted to acne prones broke me out in the same type of bumpy rash. Sometimes too much is just TOO MUCH.

Barbie’s little sister, Skipper:  Tinted Moisturizer.
What is it:  A MUCH lighter foundation with sheer coverage that is typically build-able – to an extent. Non-drying and can substitute or add to your current moisturizer. Typically infused with a fair amount of SPF (but not as much as a BB Cream). Your get-out-and-go product.
How it feels: VERY sheer. Some can be dewy, some absorb very quickly. If not set with a powder, I found that these *can* disappear after around 3-4 hours.
What it really does:  When you find the right formulation for you, it can really help your skin breathe.  It can simplify your routine while still making you look polished.

The classic: Foundation.
What is it: A medium to full coverage product to give you a more flawless finish.  Comes in a wide variety of colors, undertones, purposes and textures (liquids, creams, powders, etc).  Can be sheered out or can be a full-on mask for days when you just need some real help.
How it feels:  Lately, most formulas are trying to feel more light and comfortable on the skin while still providing a higher level of coverage. However, some people prefer feeling something on their skin to ensure coverage (old school thought process: think PAN stick foundations).
What it really does:  Gives you a new face, basically

Long time no posting! I really try to ensure I am giving you all new content weekly… but work has been very busy and grad school is around the corner!

Also, totes OFF subject from makeup, but I’ve been doing a BeachBody workout/exercise challenge and been very into it. Lost over 10+ inches on my body in 2 months so far. 1 month left! Message me if you’d like to know more.

In the meantime… enjoy my quarterly favorites video:

 

I will do these quarterly. Many YouTuber’s do monthly favorites… that just doesn’t work for me. I need more time, ya know?

Enjoy!

Sorry I’ve been traveling like a flight attendant lately… videos coming soon! But in the meantime… here’s a cool purple look I tried out last week for fun!

Who wants a breakdown of products used?? Have you done a bright/dramatic purple look? What did you use?

 

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN TO CREATE THIS LOOK:

 

1. Primed w/ TFSI
2. Nude eyeshadow (I mixed MAC ricepaper, orb & brule) all over eye
3. Lavender color (I used Urban Decay Grifter from Ammo Palette)… light wash… all over lid and into crease with a fluffy brush… blend up towards brow softly
4. Black eyeliner… line rims of eye.
5. Black eyeliner… color in outer 1/2 of eye into crease bone. Smudge from lash line into crease. Softening just out towards outer half and up towards browbone
6. Flat shader brush, use that Lavender color again in the inner corner… into the middle… use as a blender color towards the browbone
7. Flat shader brush, use that MUFE #92 from middle to outer half
10. MASCARA

I am looking for a lighter product for spring/summer soon… (not right this minute )

Did my research and averaged out some ratings on customer websites… and I’m between 4 options:

TOTAL AVGS:
Tarte Smooth Operator:                        4.3   82.5% would repurchase  $36
*swatched in stores. Good color range for me.  Accessible in person (Ulta close by). Never tried on face.
Too Faced Beauty Balm:                                     4.1    76% would repurchase   $32
*swatched in stores. Good color range for me. Accessible in person (Ulta close by). Never tried on face.
Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer:   4.0   (no % avg %)  $42
*swatched in stores. In between 2 colors, harder to access (LM counter further away). Never tried on face, but I love LM Silk Creme.
Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint:                     3.8   61%  would repurchase   $38
*Received in March birchbox. Was my favorite product. Great coverage, doesn’t break me out. Has slight shimmers that I’m uneasy about. Only accessible online.

VOTE HERE!

Tarte Smooth Operator

Too Faced Beauty Balm

Laura Mercier Oil Free TM

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

Since I need no more makeup… why not nail polish lol? I cleaned out my polish box, which really doesn’t hold more than 10-15 total polishes, and analyzed the color selection I had.

I had a huge surplus of mauve/pinky/purples and nudes. But everything else was sort of lacking. I also like some level of practicality and multi wear when I purchase polish – hence why I don’t have much.

So! I have a video uploading that i will share here to see the actual bottles right here:

And now… swatches!

These are my current spring colors for this year

Some closer-ups:

Love that Pink and Gold sparkle shade... the Color Club applied awesome!

That Wet n Wild brush applies like a dream! One coat gave that color!

Butterfly kisses may be my fave... although needs a few coats

 

So… after being on the 6 month eyeshadow no buy…and reorganizing my collection, I realize how much I do have and how much I need to start using up. This even extends to body lotions/washes/etc.

While I complete my last 2 months of the BeachBody program, TurboFire (it’s 3 months, started almost at the end of my eyeshadow no buy), I am documenting every product I finish. I am also focusing on those body lotions we all collect from Bath & Body Works or things we buy at the drugstore on sale and never finish.  I am listing them and will update at the end of this month. There are 25 days left.

Things I DEFINITELY do not need to purchase:

-Bronzers.  I am currently finishing up a Smashbox bronzer from probably 2 years ago. This stuff is so finely milled it is taking FOREVER! I have a lightly used TooFaced chocolate soleil bronzer on deck, as well as a fabulous Soap & Glory solar power bronzer I received in a swap, a NYC Sunny bronzer I purchased on a whim at Walmart in a previous haul, andddd a NARS Casino (brand new) that i got on Christmas. What the hell is wrong with me! LOL.

-Eyeshadows.  I have completely filled my large z-palette. There are NO colors I need. At this point, the only time I will purchase is when i completely finish one.

-Lipglosses. I haven’t been using these too much lately. I’ve been on a lipstick kick.  So I see no reason to buy more and stare at them.

-Face powders.  I am also trying to finish a CARGO Blu-Ray HD face powder from probably 2 years ago, too. Another highly milled/well made powder that is taking forever to use up.  It also can be cakey if you aren’t careful, so it’s hard to use a lot. Bah!  I also have a backup MAC MSF in Medium Plus anddd Medium Deep! As well as a MakeupForever HD powder that I like to use in summer because it’s a bit drying on me.

-Blushes.  I love the ones I have and there’s no reason to get any more. I have 2 NARS (a light pink/peach, a deeper peach/pink), 1 Tarte (a rose brown) and 1 BeneFit (a cooler/natural light pinky/peach flush).

-Mascaras.  I am currently testing out a few. I am using the full-sized Prestige My Biggest Lashes, but I have a sample of Tarte’s Lights Camera Lashes and BeneFit’s They’re Real to finish up.  I also have a 1-2 month old Clinique mascara that I like and need to finish.  AND I Have a backup to try out… CoverGirl Lash Perfection. Again… WHYYY!

That pretty much just leaves…. liners? And they’re not something I really care to try out. I have a little left of my black Urban Decay Zero pencil left (hopefully finishing within the week!), about 1/4th left of my MAC Stubborn brown pencil left, a decent amount of my lovely Fluidlines from MAC and my Holy Grail liquid liner, BeneFit’s Magic Ink.

Foundations are also not needed. I have 3 decent ones I’m still finishing up.  However, I will not discount possible research/testing on some tinted moisturizer or BB creams. I’m very intrigued by BB creams…

THAT MEANS I OFFICIALLY DO NOT NEED ANY MAKEUP!!!

With this being said, if there is anything that happens to pique my interest by the end of these next two months, I am only allowed to purchase UP TO the cost of the items I used up that month.

So that’s the plan! I’ll keep you all posted.  How are you with your collection? Do you feel you need to STOP buying or are you looking to expand the obsession?

PS. Ulta owed me $30 from my rewards card. I am getting a gift card in that amount… ahh!!

A reminder:  makeup is meant to be fun. Colors are made to be used! And rainy Sundays are perfect times to combine that!

I had a YouTuber challenge me to create this off-beat/dramatic look.  I veered away from actually recording a tutorial of it because it was a bit complex and really not wearable. But for fun, I wanted to share the finished look and maybe spring some ideas your way to interpret it your own.

Enjoy!

 

Loved the way the white liner accented the lashline subtlety

 

Full look