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Monday, October 22, 2012

Hyped Products: Worth It or Better Alternative?

Surely, I am not the only person to give into products that are hyped on beauty blogs. For awhile, it seemed I was buying every product based on blog reviews and maybe beauty "peer" pressure... There are tons of these posts in the beauty blogging world but I thought I would add in my two cents and experience.

The first product is none other than the highly reviewed  and loved Bioderma Crealine H20. I'm sure you have all heard of it, so I don't feel an in-depth description is necessary.  Now, I love Micellar (cleansing water) cleansers. I love that they feel clean and not oily and I love the ease(lazy) of removing even very hard to remove waterproof mascara.

For my experience, I really do not get the hype of Bioderma. For one, I had to pay a pretty high price to try this somewhat of a mediocre product. Yes, there are sellers on eBay and Amazon but include shipping and wait-time, I was expecting a miracle product that out-performed other such identical products. It took a great deal of product and effort to remove my waterproof mascara. Thus, further increasing an already pricy product. It just did not make the angels sing or for the record make me glad to have paid the price to use it.

Now, I will not leave you empty handed. I have found  a great product that works so much better and it is cheaper. I still have to order and wait, but this product is so amazing to me that I am wiling to do just that.
Let me introduce you to a cheaper and better performing micellar cleanser...  
HARUHADA Collagen Cleansing Water:
I purchase this on Sasa.com for around $13 for 500 ml.  That is a substantial savings compared to Bioderma and it works so much better. This removes even my toughest mascara in one swoop without irritation or tugging. A definite repurchase product for me. And Sasa will have free shipping and low shipping offers so you can stock up on this gem.

And if you want something you can get in Sephora, try the Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water. It works better than Bioderma but I prefer my little lovely even to Sephora based on performance and cost. One thing I really like about Sephora brand is the pump. No mess and it dispenses perfectly.




Sunday, October 21, 2012

In which I finally understand ... Chanel and Dior Eyeshadow

I love higher end products. I like to treat myself occasionally to a luxurious lipstick or eyeshadow palette. A few months ago, I went crazy on a blog sale and  eBay and purchased some Chanel and Dior eyeshadow palettes. Now, I will tell you that my favorite shadows are Urban Decay and MAC. I love the pigmentation, color selection and ease of use. I would say most of my eyeshadow are UD. But, I gave into the hype that is Dior and Chanel and spent a fortune portion of my beauty budget to try these and was sorely disappointed. For one, pigmentation... when one is used to Urban Decay.

I think for me, I needed to understand that ideal and purpose behind these brands. Urban Decay is about bold, cool and making a statement whereas the other two are more classic and chic. Once, I finally got that in my head, I have been enjoying the classic style of my Dior 5 color eyeshadow palettes and my Chanel duos. I just needed to grasp the concepts of each brand considering the money was spent and I needed to find a place in my makeup wardrobe for these higher end shadows. I'm not saying everyone needs these shadows(unlike the Urban Decay Naked Palettes) but they are a nice touch to any makeup collection.

I'm loving my Chanel Duo in Misty/Soft which is a purple-taupe duo perfect for Fall and for a day wear look. As well, the little mini of Dior Stylish Moves is getting a lot of wear too.

Any products that disappointed you but you've found a place for ?


The only drugstore product I won't buy....

After going through my stash and looking at my drugstore faves, I realize there is only one beauty product I do not buy at the drugstore.  Blush...  I am usually pretty open to buying and trying new products either high end or drugstore. But, I do not buy drugstore blush. I'm wondering if it's that I have a love a certain higher end blushes and feel that their counterparts will not compare or if it's due to being disappointed in the past. My experience has been chalky and clown colors or scratchy formulas with low pigmentation. Is there a product you will not buy at the drugstore?

Cover Girl
Revlon


Maybelline Dream Mousse

Elf Duo

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Favorite Drug Store Products

Sephora Wishlist

My Top 5 Foundations

My Top 5 Foundations



To be honest, I own a ton of great foundations. I had a hard time whittling the list down to just five. I tend to have normal/combo skin in the summer and normal/ dry skin in the cooler months. Here are my favorites right now.

1. Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer in Nude- I am very sensitive to oils in foundations, so I picked the oil free version of this one. In my opinion, this works great for all skin types. Even with my dryish skin, it still feels dewy and has a nice finish.

2. Lancome Teint Miracle (Ivory 4N): This is such a gorgeous foundation. This will most likely be my fall/winter foundation. It glides on easily and leaves a flawless finish.

3. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Compact (B10): This is my first foundation by Chanel. This has such a lovely finish especially for dryer skin types. This can be hard to apply but the best way is with a dry sponge. I use my dry beauty blender and it sheers out beautifully.

4. Chanel Perfection Lumiere (B10): This gets mixed reviews from blogs, but it wears really well on my skin. This is my go to long lasting foundation. I apply with a damp beauty blender for a flawless finish.

5. Clinique Even Better (Linen): My skin loves Clinique foundations. I think the fact that they are made for sensitive skins really helps. I wear Linen which is for very fair neutral skin. It's a perfect match for me. The finish is a demi satin.

I tend to powder all of my foundations as I don't like a wet feel to my face. None of these are completely matte even with a light dusting of my favorite powders.


Favorite Benefit Products

Friday, September 21, 2012

Updated Blog Sale

 I am updating the blog sale for ease of what is still available.

Thank you to all who purchased from the sale!


Welcome to my Blog Sale. If you see something you like, please email me @ mbtmom@uab.edu.


All items come from a smoke free home. We do have pets but they are not near the makeup.

Everyone is welcome. International shoppers: Shipping will be higher of course but I am willing to ship.

Here are some guidelines:

Payment is expected within 48 hours . If you need more time, please state in your initial email and we can work something out. If you ask, I will pend items for you for 48 hours. Otherwise,  if pymt is not received items will go to the next person. 

Forms of payment: Paypal gift preferred. I am now able to invoice but fees will be added.   Please do not send Paypal until email  is received. 

Shipping: I normally ship once a week. I provide delivery confirmation on all US pkgs.  I reuse shipping materials. All items will be carefully wrapped and shipped in either bubble wrap padded envelopes or boxes if needed.

Shipping starts @$3 for the first item and additional will be added for more items as needed. 

No returns or refunds as I am providing pics and details of items.

Minimum order $5 please

I will post a w/l at the bottom of the post--- I may be interested in trading for those items only.

First come, first served***  


I have the following merchandise credits if any interest: 
Ulta $40.22 $38 shipped
Sephora $52.xx $48 shipped
Sephora $10.xx $8 shipped

Here is what is remaining:  Some Pics for reference 

Illamasqua Liquid Metal New no box $8 in Stoic(bright green) Pic for reference
Illamasqua Cream Blush: Brazen: New no box $15






Illamasqua Lipstick Fable New no box $12
Illamasqua pencils: $7 each swatched on hand 1x 
Severe: burgundy reddish
Adamant : greyish

Estee Lauder GWP items : ALL NEW
Purchased this month from Nordstrom-- Pics for reference

Pure Color Blush/Bronzer Compact Bronze goddess/Pink Ingenue/Peach Passion $7 SOLD
Take it Away makeup remover 2.5 oz $5
Daywear Advanced Mutli-Anti-oxidant Creme SPF 15 0.5 oz $10
Even Tone Illuminator 0.24 oz $8
Purple Bag $3 
 


Chanel NIB 3.4 oz Biphase Eye makeup remover Tester $12

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (2) 0.5 oz each New $5.50  each

Clarins Mini Beauty Set NEW  $14 SOLD

Laura Mercier
Forest Green Mini Tightline Cake Eyeliner NEW $6
Full Blown Mascara Mini $4 NEW

Lancome GWP Taupe Craze Palette 1x $12 (borrowed pic.. thanks)  SOLD


Real Techniques Core Collection $15 NIP
Boots no7 Concealer  Light used 1x $5








1. Dior 5 Color Palette in Lifting Amber $30 NIB SOLD









Chanel  Eyeshadow Duo in  khaki/clair NIB $22  SOLD


Chanel Rouge Coco in Bois Des Iles used 1x $20 still have box if interested. SOLD


Chanel Brilliant Soleil Sheer Brilliance Lipstick in Wild  Honey (this is a tester with no Chanel lid-- it has a clear top) used 1x $10

Dior Addict Lipstick in Rouge Pop #953  tester with white top used 1x $5 

Dior Lifting Ivory 5 Color e/s  refill $10 used 1x eyeliner color used 3x  comes in plastic shell

Benefit Laugh With Lee Lee mini perfume 0.5 oz  NIB $12   

IT Cosmetics Travel Size Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer Natural Medium Travel Size swatched 1x 0.11 oz $5 

Figs & Rouge Sweet Geranium Lip Balm NWOB Full size $2

BN WNW Petal Pusher  8 pan shadow $2.50   SOLD


Senna Lip Gloss DoubleDipped NEW lipgloss (two shades in one peach and coral) $2

Alessandra Rescue Heel Balm NEW $3

Estee Lauder Resilence Lift 0.5 oz swatched $3.50

Strivectin Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks/Wrinkes 0.5 oz $5 NIB

Strivectin Tightening Neck Cream 0.25 oz $5 NIB

Maybelline Cream Eye Shadow Brush (came out with LE color tattoos) $4 NIP


Urban Decay 24/7 mini pencils: eyeshadow pencil in Rehab New $3

Drugstore Pencils : Loreal Brown, Revlon Steel Smoke and Bronze, Colorstay Navy, WNW Navy  swatched/used no more than 2x. Some new   $4 for the lot

Drugstore Lipsticks usage as shown: CG rich, smitten $2, Maybelline Party Pink $2, Loreal Caresse Sunset Angoria $3 most used 1 or 2x PEND

Estee Lauder  with refill $5 used 1x,  Mally Shadow Stick in Twilight $4 used 1x, Dior black pencil mini $1 used 1x, Revlon Brown Fantasy in dark Blonde used 3x never sharpened $2, Eyeko Skinny Liner Black used 2x $2,

ELF studio blush brush $2, "C" eyeshadow brush $2, L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black NIP $3, PEND All Brushes are NIP

Max Factor Liquid Liner Black NIB $4, Clinique High Impact mini NIP $2

Stila Empowered in Pink Palette used 1x $5,

Sephora Grey/Pink quad used 1x $4 ,  

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer neutralizer $3 NIP  PEND
 
Stila Foundation Stick used 1x $4 Shade C,

MUFE #78 matte brown used several times but no pan $2 PEND,

Loreal Navy Shadow NIP $2,

Loreal Infallible e/s Gray Swatched $3

Essie: Bikini So Teeny NIP $5, PEND Miami Nice used 1x $3

Makeup Bag NWT but has two small dots from eye pencil $5

Tarte Lipsurgence in Fiery used 2 or 3 x $5,PEND  Achiote used 3x $5 , PEND

Estee Lauder Mad Men Cherry Lipstick Used a few times $10,

Naked gloss used 1x $2

W/L items:
RBR blush in Gracilis or Delicata
RBR Delicate Hummingbird
Shu Uemura Cleansing oil- Balancing High Performance Advanced Formula
WNW Comfort Zone Palette
Sephora or Ulta GC


.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Update from Blog Sale:

Chanel Rouge CoCo Romance SOLD
UD Demolition/StrayDog SOLD
Tarte Lipsurgence in Achiote  PEND
Dior Quint Pink PEND
UD PP mini SOLD
UD  supercurl lashes x2 SOLD
Clarins EyeShadow Palette SOLD

Thank you 

Friday, August 31, 2012

Blog Sale

Please see new post on blog for updates and items still available

Welcome to my Blog Sale. If you see something you like, please email me @ mbtmom@uab.edu.


All items come from a smoke free home. We do have pets but they are not near the makeup.

Everyone is welcome. International shoppers: Shipping will be higher of course but I am willing to ship.

Here are some guidelines:

Payment is expected within 48 hours . If you need more time, please state in your initial email and we can work something out.

Forms of payment: Paypal gift only. Please do not send Paypal until email  is received. 

Shipping: I normally ship once a week. I provide delivery confirmation on all US pkgs.  I reuse shipping materials. All items will be carefully wrapped and shipped in either bubble wrap padded envelopes or boxes if needed.

Shipping starts @$3 for the first item and additional will be added for more items as needed. 

No returns or refunds as I am providing pics and details of items.

Minimum order $5 please

I will post a w/l at the bottom of the post--- I may be interested in trading for those items only.

**I really want to move this stuff out! No reasonable offer will be refused. First come, first served***  


NEW ITEMS: PICS WILL BE POSTED ASAP

1. Chanel  Eyeshadow Duo in  khaki/clair NIB $22 PEND
2. Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum sample x2 $5 
3. Chanel Hydra Beauty Creme x2 $5   
4. Chanel Rouge Coco in Bois Des Iles used 1x $20 still have box if interested.
5. Chanel Brilliant Soleil Sheer Brilliance Lipstick in Wild  Honey (this is a tester with no Chanel lid-- it has a clear top) used 1x $15
6 Guerlain Meteorites Compact Powder in Teint Rose used 2x $35 still have box if interested PEND
7. Dior Addict Lipstick in Rouge Pop #953  tester with white top used 1x $5 
8. Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette used 1x some colors still new $18 
9. Benefit Laugh With Lee Lee mini perfume NIB $12   
10. MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder NW15 NWOB $8
11. IT Cosmetics Travel Size Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer Natural Medium Travel Size swatched 1x 0.11 oz $5 
12. Figs & Rouge Sweet Geranium Lip Balm NWOB Full size $2
13. NEW WNW Petal Pusher  8 pan shadow $2.50
14. ST. TROPEZ Gradual Tan med/dark 75 ml New $5
15. Senna Lip Gloss DoubleDipped NEW lipgloss (two shades in one peach and coral)
16. Alessandra Rescue Heel Balm NEW $3
17. Estee Lauder Resilence Lift 0.5 oz swatched $3.50
18. Strivectin Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks/Wrinkes 0.5 oz $5 NIB
19. Strivectin Tightening Neck Cream 0.25 oz $5 NIB
20. Maybelline Cream Eye Shadow Brush (came out with LE color tattoos) $4 NIP
21. Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette NIB Lifting Amber $30



Urban Decay 24/7 mini pencils: Bourban, Zero, swiped or used maybe 2x $4 each PEND
eyeshadow pencil in Rehab New $3

Drugstore Pencils : Loreal Brown, Revlon Steel Smoke and Bronze, Colorstay Navy,$2 WNW Navy $1 swatched/used no more than 2x. Some new     

Drugstore Lipsticks usage as shown: CG rich, smitten $2, Maybelline Party Pink $2, Loreal Caresse Sunset Angoria $3 most used 1 or 2xPEND

Estee Lauder  with refill $5 used 1x,  Mally Shadow Stick in Twilight $4 used 1x, Dior black pencil mini $1 used 1x, Revlon Brown Fantasy in dark Blonde used 3x never sharpened $2, Maybelline Define a Brow in Dark Blonde used 2x $2, Eyeko Skinny Liner Black used 2x $2, Nars Stylo Black Eyeliner NWOB $8

ELF studio blush brush $2, "C" eyeshadow brush $2, L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black NIP $3, PENDAll Brushes are NIP

Max Factor Liquid Liner Black NIB $4, Clinique High Impact mini NIP $2
UD Big Fatty used 2x $3


Stila Empowered in Pink Palette used 1x $5, Sephora Grey/Pink quad used 1x $4 , Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer neutralizer $3 NIP  PEND

 Clinique GWP used 1x $3,  Dior Lifting Ivory refill $10 used 1x eyeliner color used 3x  
 Benefit Silver Spoon Cream Shadow NIP $5

Stila Foundation Stick used 1x $4 Shade C, MUFE #78 matte brown used several times but no pan $2 PEND, Loreal Navy Shadow NIP $2, Korres Smaller size anti aging primer $3 used 1x, MAC beauty powder in Personal Style  used a few times $7 , Clinique redness reducing powder used 1x sample size $3, Loreal Infallible Gray Swatched $3,
Algenist Night Cream deluxe sample NIB $2, Essie: Bikini So Teeny NIP $5, PEND Miami Nice used 1x $3

Makeup Back NWT but has two small dots from eye pencil $5

 Tarte Lipgloss Achiote used 2x $4,  Tarte Lipsurgence in Fiery used 2 or 3 x $5,PEND  Achiote used 3x $5 , Estee Lauder Mad Men Cherry Lipstick Used a few times $10, Naked gloss used 1x $2


W/L items:
RBR blush in Gracilis or Delicata
RBR Delicate Hummingbird
Shu Uemura Cleansing oil- Balancing High Performance Advanced Formula
WNW Comfort Zone Palette
Sephora or Ulta GC