MAC Pink Lemonade Lipglass

MAC Lipglass in Pink Lemonade

The other day when I wrote about my purchases from MAC's Heavenly Creature collection, I forgot to mention that I'd also picked up a lip product from the permanent line.

MAC's Lipglass in Pink Lemonade.

I've been reading good things about this shade for years, and given my fondness for any and all coral or peach lip products, I don't know why I didn't get off my butt and buy it sooner.

Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundation

Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundation in Fair

Starting Friday on QVC, you can get the 6 piece "What has your makeup done for your lately?" TSV for $49.96 (+$6.72 s/h), which you can purchase here.

I previewed its contents when my kit arrived a few weeks back, and while there are a few interesting products in the kit, the star is definitely the Maracuja Miracle Foundation.  I've had a few weeks to test it out now, and I've got to say, I'm pretty much head over heels in love with it.

Well, almost.

Buxom Color Choreography Eyeshadow Palette in Tango

Buxom Color Choreography Eyeshadow Palette

When I heard several months back that Buxom was going to be coming out with a line of eyeshadow palettes, I was beyond excited.

I love their True Hue blushes as I mentioned here, and I love what their parent company, Bare Escentuals, has done since entering the realm of pressed makeup.  In fact, Bare Escentuals Ready Shadows have quickly become one of my favorite shadow formulas. 

So I had high hopes for my Buxom Color Choreography Eyeshadow Palette.

The Balm Girls Lipsticks - Ima Goodkisser and Mai Billsbepaid (and quick mention of Stainiac)

The Balm Girls Lipsticks and sample of Stainiac

This will be the final post regarding product from the Balm for a while, I promise. 

(Though I reserve the right to go back on my word if there's another sale on Haute Look anytime soon. I can't resist much from this brand.)

So the final items that I purchased during the last Balm sale on Haute Look were two of the Balm Girls Lipsticks.  I've never tried Balm lip products before, so I was really curious to give these a go.

The Balm Time Balm Concealer

The Balm Time Balm Concealer

Yes, another product from the Balm - I wasn't kidding when I said I treated myself during their last Haute Look sale - but after tomorrow, we'll be done with them for a while, I swear.

(Well, unless the Balm is on Haute Look again some time soon ... I've decided that I must - absolutely must - have Down Boy blush. )

Typically, I only use concealer under my eyes.

While I do get montly breakouts, I usually don't use concealer on them.  I apply my foundation and just let it cover whatever it can.  Maybe it's my technique, but I find that whenever I apply concealer to active acne, I only seem to call more attention to it.

That said, when I judge a concealer, it's based mostly on how it performs under the eyes.

In that regard, I'm pretty ambivalent about the Balm's Time Balm concealer.

The Balm Betty-Lou Manizer AKA The Bronzing Bandit

The Balm Betty-Lou Manizer - seriously, how cute is this packaging?!

When I purchased Mary-Lou Manizer from the Balm's last sale on Haute Look, I didn't want her to be lonely.

I had to buy a friend for her.

At least, that's how I justified buying the Balm's Betty-Lou Manizer AKA the Bronzing Bandit even though I'm a super pale girl who doesn't really do bronzer and has already found the holy grail of bronzers for fair skin for those rare occasions when I do wear it.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer AKA "the Luminizer"

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer - the packaging alone is reason to buy this highlighter!

I mentioned a couple of weeks back that I'd gotten a few goodies the last time that the Balm was on sale at Haute Look.

Of all the things that I bought, the one that I'd been coveting for the longest time was the Mary-Lou Manizer, or the Balm's version of a highlighter. (I may have mentioned a time or two that I'm something of a highlighter whore.)

The Balm Hot Ticket Nail Polish in Call Me Iridescent

The Balm Hot Ticket Polish in Call Me Iridescent

Last month when The Balm their last sale on Haute Look, I bought a bunch of goodies that I'm really excited to share over the next week or so.

I thought I'd start with a product that I haven't really seen too many bloggers talking about - the Balm's Hot Ticket Nail Polish.

Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo

Can a girl really have too many highlighters?

I've mentioned before that in addition to blushes and any and all peachy colored makeup, I am something of a highlighter fiend.

I just love the glowy look that a good highlighter can give, and even though I've got a bunch in my drawer that do the job really well, I can never resist trying a new one.

Too Faced's Candlelight Glow Highlighting Duo came out with their 2012 spring collection, and like too many items in that collection, I had to have it as soon as I saw a photo.  I'm a sucker like that.

Too Faced Natural at Night Eye Shadow Palette

I love of the look of a sultry, sexy smoky eye, but being as fair as I am, I have a tough time pulling it off myself.

If I try using any of the classic smoky eye shades - black, charcoal, navy, purple, etc. - I wind up looking like I was sucker-punched with a mean right hook.

The only way for me to wear a smoky eye is use to warm mid-tone brown, bronze or copper shades, which don't wash me out as much as those darker shades and actually look pretty good with my blue eyes.

That's why I was seriously intrigued when Too Faced came out with their Natural at Night Eye Shadow Palette, which includes all the perfect shades for a more natural smoky eye.

Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation

Lancome Teint Miracle in Ivoire 1(N)

In general, I usually only need to use a product a few times before I know how I feel about it.

When it comes to foundation, though, I feel like there's a much steeper learning curve.

So much of how a foundation performs depends on how my skin is behaving at a given time - if it's clear and free of dry patches, almost any foundation can seem like a good one. 

But then a week later, when my chin is broken out and the patch of skin between my eyebrows is dry as a the desert, that same foundation can look like a cakey, awful mess. 

It Cosmetics Airbrush Illuminizer & Brush

It Cosmetics Airbrush Illuminizer & Luxe wand bell brush

Just as I am a total blush addict, I have a slight problem when it comes to highlighters.

I simply cannot resist them.

Maybe it's because I've been on the hunt for the perfect highlighter for years and I just couldn't seem to find one that gave me the look I was going for.  I've found plenty that I like - some that I might even say I loved - but none that delivered that perfect lit-from-within glow without a hint of glitter or obvious shimmer to be seen.

Until I found the It Cosmetics Airbrush Illuminizer, that is.

Wet n Wild megalength Mascara

Wet n Wild megalength Mascara

Just a friendly reminder that you have until midnight tonight to enter my Tarte Amazonian Clay, Maracuja Creaseless Concealer and Sigma F80 brush giveaway. You can find the details here.

Now, on to mascara...

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I don't have any problem spending money on makeup. As much as I love shopping for clothes and shoes, I don't really feel the need to have a large wardrobe (that's probably due to the fact that I work from home so I can go more casual on a day-to-day basis) - so I don't usually spend a ton of money on those types of items. 

When it comes to makeup, though, I just can't seem to have enough. 

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation & Powder Foundation

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation & Powder Foundation

Just a friendly reminder - there's still plenty of time to enter my Tarte Foundation, Concealer & Sigma Brush giveaway.  You can find all the details here.

In my April Favorites post, I included the Josie Maran Fresh Finish Hydrating Liquid Powder and mentioned that I was a fan of quite a few of her products.

MAC Face and Body Foundation vs. MUFE Face & Body Foundation

MAC Face and Body Foundation vs. Makeup For Ever Face & Body Foundation

Before I get to the main event, I want to apologize for being MIA this week. I had a deadline with a work project this week, which had me scrambling - and stressed to the max.  Fortunately, I finished on time, but I needed a couple of days to recover. 

Now, on to the the important stuff ... makeup.

When the weather turns warm, I generally prefer lightweight face products. These days, that usually means tinted moisturizers or foundations with light to medium coverage since I can't really wear powder foundation on its own now that my skin has become drier.

For a while, I've been wanting to try both MAC Face and Body Foundation and MUFE Face & Body Foundation because they're light, water-based (and water-resistant or -proof) formulas.  At the end of last summer, I had a Sephora gift card so I picked up the MUFE F&B - but I only used it a few times before the cold weather insisted that I use something a little creamier and more moisturizing on my dry skin. 

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate

Back when I posted my thoughts on Too Faced Summer Eye Palette, I mentioned that I'd gotten some other goodies as well.  I'm not sure what's taken me so long to discuss the Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate, but better late than never.

Hourglass Femme Rouge Lipstick in Whisper

Hourglass Femme Rouge Lipstick in Whisper

I think that I've made it pretty obvious - like here and here -  that I am a huge, huge fan of Hourglass Cosmetics' Femme Rouge Lipstick formula.

Even though I'd only tried one shade - the wonderfully peachy-nude, Grace - I could see why Hourglass gets away with charging a whopping $30 per lipstick.  Smooth, creamy and completely non-drying, it's like heaven on the lips - and without question, the best lipstick formula I've ever tried.

Buxom True Hue Blush Review

Buxom True Hue Blushes

So the very generous and very wise Easter Bunny brought me a Sephora gift card - and he was even kind enough to bring it a little early so I could hit the store this past Saturday afternoon while I was away for Easter weekend.

Gotta love that Easter Bunny.

Now, as I mentioned before, lately whenever I'm let loose in Sephora, blush is the only thing I can think about. I tried to be open-minded as I roamed the aisles on Saturday, I swear, but somehow it was always the blush that caught my eye.  I thought about getting some more Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes or adding another Nars stunner to my collection. I also had another of the LORAC Baked Satin Matte Blushes in my hand at one point, but ultimately, I decided to go with a couple that I've had my eye on for a couple of months now.

Buxom's True Hue Blushes.

Too Faced Summer Eye Palette

Too Faced Summer Eye Palette

When it comes to makeup, I tend to make snap decisions.

For example, I'll see a photo of a new lipstick shade or swatch of a new blush online and within seconds of seeing it, I've either decided that I love it and cannot live without it or it's just not pretty enough to be part of my collection.

Crazy, I know.

Mainly because when I rush out and buy (or don't, in some cases) whatever item it is that I've decided I love, there's always the risk that it won't live up to the expectations I've created in my head and I come away disappointed.

That's happened more than once, unfortunately.

It doesn't seem to stop me from being impulsive.

Case in point - the moment I caught a glimpse of Too Faced's new Summer Eye Palette, I knew that I was going to buy it.  The colors looked gorgeous in photos, I was drooling over swatches on other blogs, and I adored the fun packaging that just screams summer.

I was a goner.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup Review

Last week in my post about the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Concealer in Brightener, I mentioned that I bought the concealer when Maybelline was on BOGO 1/2 off at CVS.  To take advantage of the deal, I also purchased the Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup.

It was kind of on a lark.  I didn't expect much from the foundation, but I'd seen quite a few favorable reviews of the product so I figured it was worth a try.

And it definitely is.  Particularly if you have dry skin.