the 5 product makeup challenge

I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but I find myself using more and more products in the morning as my makeup collection grows. Makeup used to be just another part of my daily routine -- something I slapped on after I brushed my teeth and right before throwing my hair in a ponytail.

Somewhere along the way, my time in front of the mirror became something therapeutic and really enjoyable. A few minutes to myself with a cup of coffee and Colbie Caillat streaming on my laptop was my recipe to a perfect start to the day.

The more time I spent at my vanity, the more products I applied. I wasn't walking out the door looking like a leader of the Ringling Brothers Circus or anything, but it did spark a thought - am I wearing too much for just a day in the office?

So I decided to dial back for a day; pare down my makeup routine to the bare essentials.

Thus the 5 product makeup challenge was born.

Here's what I used:

Challenges of the challenge:

- the temptation to use an eye shadow palette and count it as one item

- having to get rid of a lip product

- finding a buildable shadow that delivers multidimensional application (thank you, L'Oreal infallible!)

At first I felt a little naked, a little lacking - but I also felt fresh and natural and young.

I'd love to make this a weekly routine! 

What would you choose for your 5 item challenge?  

2012 favorite roundup: makeup

In love, in hobbies, in purchases, I am by nature a fickle person. 

I want this.

No, I want that.

....do I want either?

and what's that other one? 

A cyclical mess of indecision that traps me at virtually every choice needing to be made. 

I'm easily enamored by new options, so when something becomes rooted in my routine -- surviving any and all newcomers -- I know it's something special. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

Lancome Virtuose Doll Eye Mascara [more here]

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows 

Rimmel by Kate Moss Lipstick in 08

Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover

Tarte Cheek Stain in Perfect Rose

Fresh Sugar Lip Balm

Essie A Crewed Interest

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Infused Cheek Stain in Perfect Rose

Rimmel by Kate Moss Lipstick in 08

Best of November

As I write this post, most of my things are tucked away in a cardboard box, which are piled high in the living room. In a few weeks I'll be moving to a new place, and I've gotten a head start on packing up my clutter.

It was easy to spot my favorite makeup pieces because they were all the things that I couldn't pack...I use them every day. 

If reading long lists is not your thing, you've been warned for what's up ahead. No worries, I'm not the least bit offended - I'm the same way. I just jot these things down for future reference, anyway...just in case I ever want to revisit what tickled my fancy in November '12. 

maybelline baby lips [coral crush] - Smells like orange Starbursts..yum! 

fresh sugar lip balm - My favorite lip balm of. all. time. Of all time. Had to say it twice for emphasis. Softest, smoothest, lush little stick of expensive heaven. 

e.l.f. contouring blush & bronzer [st. lucia] - A very pretty, soft coral blush that comes paired with a light cocoa bronzer, both with a hint of gold shimmer. Three dollars. How are you doing this, e.l.f.?! 

essie nail polish [leading lady] - It's holiday in a tiny bottle, really. They look like tiny christmas lights, packed into a nail polish. Gives me sparkling, warm fuzzies.

lancome virtuose doll eyes mascara - why must pricey things be so, so impressive? more on this here

NYX collection noir liquid black liner - Super fine, super long tip that doesn't bump into my lashes and make a wet clumpy mess. 

l'oreal color lip riche balm [nourishing nude] - it really doesn't provide 8 full hours of hydration like the website claims (it's more like 30 minutes if you're a normal person that breathes and talks)...but i love this color and i will forgive the lies. 

clinique chubby stick [whole lotta honey] - made with mango and shea butters; I love its glossy finish and subtle but still impactful tint. 

revlon lip butter [pink truffle] - I was largely unimpressed by revlon lip butters until this color. All aboard the hype train!

soap & glory face soap - I admit I bought this because I love the packaging aesthetics of the brand, and because the product itself is SO pretty (tiny little pink beads suspended in aquamarine gel)...but it really is an effective, great product. The beady bits help exfoliate, and though it doesn't lather as much as I'd hoped it would, my face has been feeling cleaner and less rough - which tends to happen because my area has harsh water.

Well, you made it to the bottom! You crazy, bored person. 

Thank you :)

September: stuff i liked & stuff i didn't like so much

Preface:

Over the years I've seen a healthy amount of beauty products come and go from my stash.  Along the way I've discovered stuff that is so great that I don't even touch the same product from other brands. And that is saying a lot, coming from a person who is easily seduced by new products that are riding on a carriage of marketing half-truths ("Clinically proven to reduce blemishes by 70%!"... "24-hour staying power!"..."Smudge-free!").

For nail polish top coat this is Seche Vite, for pencil eyeliner it's Sephora Kohl Waterproof liner in Keep Black.  For the rest of my routinely used products, I'm still on the hunt. So I try new things from time to time, hoping I'll find my Holy Grail :)

P.S. I struggled to come up with a more efficiently worded title but it really wasn't happening.

 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash (pink grapefruit) - Disaster. It dried out my skin so badly that I literally had skin flaking off of my cheeks. I also had a crusty lip. Sorry to be gross, but that is what happened. Gross hit me in the face and stayed there for 2 weeks. 

Ulta Sheer Fragrance Mist (precious poppies) - Ultimate champion winner.  Fragrance is entirely subjective so I won't try to sell this one too hard, but it's light and fruity and happy and I love!!

OPI (my very first knockwurst) - It's hard to be on board with fall colors when the weather is so blaringly summer...will revisit later. 

L'Oreal Color Riche Balm (caring coral) - I really like this. I'm a fan of all tinted balms because I'm afraid of actual lip colors. My eyes freak out when they see my face with a painted lip. 

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (blackest black) - It's OK. Not as good as my long-time-favorite-but-not-quite-a-permanent-fixture mascara, which is the Maybelline Falsies right underneath. 

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Corrector (light) - I am too dark for this right now. But gosh darn it i'll find use for it in my paler months, because I'm not putting $8.00 to waste!

summer favorites

I love the idea of putting together a list of favorite things I've been using, for the following reasons:

one. I love lists.
two. I love trying new products. I love buying new products. I love buying.
three. I love reading other people's favorites lists.
four. I love makeup. I love how pretty cosmetics is - the package, the product, the branding, everything.  I
        love how it can make me look good when I'm feeling like absolute shit.



These are my favorites from this summer...


♥ Neutrogena Shine Control Powder - this is better than those oil blotting papers. I get a lot of shine on my nose but the effects of this is instant, and lasts for several hours. Amaze!

♥ Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (Honey) - I'm not big on lip stains but I gave into the hype. Worth it!

♥ Korres Lip Butter (Mango) - a tinted coral lip balm. Best smelling lip product of life. More here.

♥ L'Oreal Infallible 24hr Eye Shadow (Amber Rush) - a pale pink copper. I have these in 8 different colors, they're that good! 

♥ LA Splash Nail Art Glitter (Lady Luck) - I dip my entire finger in this pot of glitter to do accents (here). It's got tons of gold micro-glitter mixed with bits of iridescent hexagonal glitter. 

♥ Milani Baked Blush (Luminoso) - I loved this so much I almost bought a second one (sensible, I am not). I usually gravitate towards rose or mauve hues, but this coral one is my blush soul mate. 

♥ Essie (A Crewed Interest) - A cross between pastel pink x light coral

♥ Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment - The freebie mini version I got from Sephora turned into a lifetime loyalty to this product. I hate you, Sephora.