What's In My Bag? Vacation Makeup!

In a few days I'll be headed to Las Vegas! Woo!  I booked the cheapest flight in existence ($50). This particular airline nickels and dimes for everything, and I mean everything.  If I wanted to select my seat, it was a $5 charge. If I want to bring a carry on and put it in the overhead compartment, it's $30. If I want to check a bag it's $20.

$105 for a one way flight is still a really good deal, but I'm really frugal when it comes to stuff that isn't important to me. You betcha I didn't pay for anything except for selecting my seat!  I'll spend that $50 elsewhere, thankyouverymuch.

Because of this, for my 5 day vacation, I am only bringing a personal item that will fit under the seat in front of me.

Can it be done? Yes!



This post will only talk about the makeup and beauty products I'll be bringing.  All fit in two small clutch-sized beauty bags.

Let's get started!


First, the skincare:

• Sample sized bottle of Purity face wash.
• Four sample containers from Lush (I save those little containers, they are so handy!). 
• Buche De Noel face cleanser
• Ocean Salt face scrub
• Skin Drink moisturizer
• Enchanted Eye cream

• A spray bottle that was a sample of Matrix Flash Filler, but I used all that up, washed out the bottle and filled it with Breath of Fresh Air toner.
• Sample sized jar of Tarte Maracuja oil.
• Sample sized can of Batiste Dry Shampoo.
• Jack Black Lip Balm in Natural Mint and Shea Butter

This bag also contains the brushes I will be taking.

• Foundation brush (but I'll probably use it to apply my loose powder, and blend my bronzer)
• Angled face brush, for blush or bronzer
• Dual sided brush from Urban Decay (came with Naked 3 palette)
• Dual sided shadow/crease brush
• Flat shader brush
• Pointed crease brush

The makeup bag is a little more crowded:

• Deluxe sample of Tarte Clean Slate Poreless primer
• NARS Sheer Glow foundation
• Deluxe sample of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye concealer
• Deluxe sample of Tarte Smooth Operator finishing powder

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz brow pencil
• Deluxe sample of Benefit Hoola bronzer
• Deluxe sample of Tarte blush in Thrilled

• Small Z pallete, filled with 9 Makeup Geek eyeshadow pans
• Shimma Shimma
• Beaches & Cream
• Vanilla Bean
• Wisteria
• Cupcake
• Barcelona Beach
• Caitlin Rose
• Sensuous
• Corrupt
• Travel sized Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Black Market
• Deluxe sample of Tarte MultiplEYE primer (lash primer)
• Deluxe sample of Tarte Lights Camera Lashes

• Urban Decay Super-Saturated lip color in Lovechild
• Deluxe sample of Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray

I have a lot of Tarte samples because I bought a Tarte Christmas countdown calendar around Christmas and it was filled with awesome stuff.  Definitely worth the cost!  And I have yet to try a Tarte product I don't like.

Note: Looks like they're still selling it even though it's not Christmas, AND it's on sale for $20. This is an amazing deal, especially if you're interested in trying Tarte products.

I'm actually tempted to get it myself! I am IN LOVE with the lash primer and the Lights Camera Lashes mascara, and the detox mask, and the blush... The primer is great, but it's very similar to the Monistat gel that I talked about in an earlier post. It also comes with a deluxe sample of Maracuja oil which is a HOLY GRAIL product for me. I can't live without it.  I use it twice daily!  The tiny sample bottle that came in this lasted me for 3 months!

Tarte is easily one of my top 3 favorite makeup brands.

Ahem, anyway...  what was I blogging about, again?

The other sample sized items that I'm taking on my trip are either from Ipsy or they came free with other purchases.

Now if only I could fit a variety of clothing in such a small space...

Current Makeup Favorites - Foundation, Concealer, Brows

When I was in 6th grade I wanted to wear makeup every day to school. My mom told me I had to be 12 years old before I could wear makeup, and even then, it could only be mascara. I'm pretty sure I snuck into her makeup anyway.

I'm so sorry Mom. I was a difficult child. 

One day in particular, I used my mom's burgundy lip liner in my eyebrows. 

Why did I think that was a good idea? Who knows.

One of my friends looked at me and said, "Oh my gosh, your eyebrows are RED!"

So I guess you can say, in 1999 I started this eyebrow trend:

Anyway, with all that being said, my makeup knowledge and skills have improved a little bit, and here are some of my favorite discoveries.

Monistat Chafing Gel, Smashbox Primer Water, and NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

This has been my go-to combination for foundation recently, and I have been loving it!  If you read my first impressions on the NARS foundation and the Smashbox primer you might be surprised by this.  When I first used the Primer Water and the Sheer Glow together, my pores were very visible. I played around with different primers and foundation routines before settling on this one. I've been doing this for the past week.

I wash and moisturize my face like normal, and after letting my moisturizer soak in for at least 5 minutes, I'll press the primer (Monistat gel) into my skin. I concentrate it on my nose and cheeks, but I smooth it all over my face.  Then I spritz my face with a few sprays of the Smashbox Primer Water.  Then I go in with the NARS Sheer Glow, using my hands.  Yes, my hands!  The directions say to use either your fingers or a beauty blender, and after trying a beauty blender, a flat top kabuki, and my fingers, I decided I like the way it looks the most when I use my fingers.

The Monistat fills in my pores so they aren't as noticeable, as well as smooths out any rough patches. The Primer Water gives my skin extra hydration and radiance, which is definitely needed when your skin is dry and dull like mine.  Top that off with the perfect coverage and finish of Sheer Glow, and I am loving my skin this spring!

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

Concealer is something I've only started wearing in the last two years or so.  It makes such a big difference on my under eye circles that I feel crazy for not using it sooner.  Pro Longwear is my favorite because it is full coverage and feels light.  I set it with a light translucent powder and it doesn't settle into fine lines, and it lasts a long time.  I have the shade NW20, but I think I would like to get NW15 next time so it's a tad bit brighter and can highlight under my eyes (which will disguise my dark circles even more).

Not only do I like to use this as under eye concealer, but this is my favorite eyeshadow primer.  I have very pigmented lids. Like, bright red pigmented! This covers them up without any problems, and it leaves a very smooth base for my eyeshadow to stick to.  My eyeshadow lasts better with this than it does when I used Urban Decay Primer Potion!  As you can guess, my Primer Potion hasn't felt any love in a while...

My only issue with this product is the packaging.  When I first got it, too much would pump out at a time, and there was no way to control it.  I would slightly press on the pump and it would just automatically pump the rest of the way and cover my fingers in concealer.  Now that I've been using it for a few months, it doesn't pump out so much all at once, and I can control the pump better to get just a half pump if I want.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe

If you know me in real life, and you've known me for more than a couple of years, you might know that I have struggled with... how do you say... invisible eyebrows, for most of my life.  I've tried many different things, mostly filling them in with powders.  I've tried other brow pencils, but most of them looked too reddish/orange. I never found anything that looked natural and stayed all day until I started using this brow pencil.


Case in point:

The top 2 are BEFORE Brow Wiz, the bottom two are After

Let it be known that it's really weird making a collage of your own face.

I couldn't find very many pictures with clear views of my brows, so bare with me here. Please realize the following:
-In the top left picture I was probably 18. Ugh, I miss that perfect skin. I did fill in my eyebrows, but I can't remember what I used.

-In the top right I was living in North Carolina, pigging out on southern BBQ and grandma's home cooking. Once again, I cannot remember what I used to fill in my brows.

-In the bottom left I was very sick, and probably should not have been out in public. I used the Brow Wiz.

-And the bottom right was taken about a week ago. Once again, I used the Brow Wiz.

I love the way the Brow Wiz makes my brows look. I love the texture of the pencil, and the product itself has  really small, fine, point so you can get in there and draw on hairs. They have a wide range of colors to suit every hair color.  It's waterproof so it lasts through the Florida humidity and rain. Generally I also use Benfit Gimme Brow after using the Brow Wiz. That makes the individual hairs show up better, thus making my brows look even more natural.

I would say that Benefit Gimme Brow is another favorite, however, that doesn't feel genuine because it is the ONLY brow gel I have ever used. I absolutely love it, but I have nothing to compare it to.


This post is getting long, so I'll have more favorites in another post.

Monistat, A Dupe for Smashbox?

A few years ago when I was first broadening my knowledge of makeup, I came across a post that mentioned Monistat chafing gel was a dupe for a Smashbox primer.  At the time I didn't use primer and I didn't even know what primer was.


Since this was some time ago, I can't remember everything about my decision, but I ended up giving it a try, and well, I've used Monistat as a primer ever since!  Since then I have tried MANY primers, and I don't like any as much as I've liked Monistat.


The Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel is good as a primer in general, but how does it match up to its supposed dupe?


First, let's look at the ingredients.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Ingredients:
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Trisiloxane, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sunflower Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Water, Grape Seed Extract, Cola Acuminata Extract, Camellia Oleifera Extract


Monistat Anti-Chafing Powder-Gel Ingredients:
Dimethicone
Cyclopentasiloxane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Silica
Tocopheryl Acetate
Trisiloxane.


While the chafing gel doesn't have identical ingredients to the Photo Finish primer, the Photo Finish primer includes everything that is in the chafing gel.  I think this is because the chafing gel isn't really a beauty product, and because of that, they haven't added filler ingredients that supposedly make your skin better, or any of the other claims that beauty products might make.

Don't let this scare you. Lacking those ingredients doesn't mean the chafing gel is going to mess your face up. In fact, I know it won't because I've been using the chafing gel as primer for three years now.



I have tried the Photo Finish primer and I actually prefer the powder gel, for more than just the price!  The price is a great reason to give the chafing gel a try (Photo Finish is $36 for 1 oz, vs the chafing gel at $5.99 for 1.5 oz).  However, my makeup lasts longer with the chafing gel than it does with the Photo Finish primer, so even if they were priced the same, I would take the chafing gel.



As you might know, I have really dry skin, but I think the chafing gel would be good for those with oily skin as well. It dries to a powdery finish that might help absorb some oils.  The chafing gel doesn't moisturize my skin, or anything like that, it simply fills in my fine lines and pores, and is a great base for my foundation to stick to.  I prefer it with more full-coverage foundations such as Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage or Mac Pro-Longwear foundation.  It doesn't do quite as well with foundations that have a more dewy finish like L'Oreal True Match Lumi. However, so far, I have enjoyed it a lot with my Nars Sheer Glow, which is a semi-matte finish.



A while back I talked about using Monistat as a primer on a beauty page I belong to and got some interesting responses.  Lots of women have also tried it and agreed, but a couple were hesitant because of what the brand, Monistat is known for.  One comment in particular made me laugh out loud!  It went something like this:

"Any time my boyfriend would smell my face and say, 'Ahh so fresh and so clean,' I'd probably bust up laughing!"


Now, if you're worried about the same thing, just realize that the chafing gel is fragrance free, and it is NOT for the same thing as most of their other products.  Chafing cream is for your thighs to keep them from rubbing together and causing blisters. It creates a barrier, just like what primer does for your face: It creates a barrier between your skin and your foundation so your foundation will lay more smoothly.


If you're in the market for a primer, give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ipsy April 2015 Glambag Review

Ipsy is a cosmetic subscription service. For $10 a month and free shipping you get a new, cute "glambag" with four to five deluxe sample size, or full size beauty products. It's a great and affordable way to try a lot of products that you probably wouldn't normally buy. You can cancel at any time.

I've been subscribed for almost two years now, and it's rare that I don't like at least one item in each bag I receive.

The bags and samples also make great gifts (in my humble opinion) for any beauty lover you might know.





Here's what came in my April bag!

The bag itself is so unique this month!  Ipsy has never done anything like it, that I know of! It's a tweed-like material, in weaved pattern. I love the bright colors! It's also larger than their normal sized bag. The inside has a silky material that is beige colored.  Super cute!


Hikari Cosmetics Blush 
- Shade: Tango
- Size: .21 oz
- Value: $15

Vibrant, easy to blend colors that highlight the cheekbones. Designed to highlight your complexion, our weightless blush can be used lightly for a fresh look or layered for a dramatic look!. An effortless application to the cheekbones that lasts all day!

Tango is described as a matte pink coral. I think it leans more on the orange side, but the photo above is showing it as more pink. I am undecided on whether or not I will be using this blush or saving it to give away as a gift. It looks like it will be very pigmented. I might also like to use it as a very bright transition shade on my eyelids...



theBalm Cosmetics Eyeshadow
- Shade: Fit
- Size: .035 oz
- Value: $3.29

Introducing theBalm's latest addition to the Nude series... Nude Dude! Get a quick look using any combination of these triple-milled shadows or dress up your look by adding water to transform your favorite shades into loyal liners. The shadows can be worn wet or dry and alone or layered for added intensity, so go ahead and cover (or uncover) your eyes.

I love the little package this came in!  It has a magnetic closure, and it opens like a book.  On the inside cover it has a picture of theBalm's new palette: Nude Dude. I have their original "nude" pallete, called "Nude 'Tude" and it features women. It is a wonderful palette, one of my favorites! theBalm's shadows are very creamy, pigmented, and long lasting.

Fit is described as a shimmering copper, and I would say that's very accurate. It's very buttery and smooth and it blended out very easily.  I think the Nude Dude palette will be a good one! If I didn't have too many eyeshadow palettes already, I might pick it up.



Mullein & Sparrow Lip & Cheek Tint
- Shade: N/A, comes in one color
- Size: .25 oz
- Value: $10

The Mullein & Sparrow Mini Lip & Cheek Tint is an all-natural, sheer, tinted balm that gives your lips and cheeks a slight flush and dewy finish. Apply desired amount to lips for nourishment, protection, and color. Dab a small amount on cheeks as a light cream blush. It’s perfect for beauty on-the-go; it brightens the whole face with a sheer rosey flush for the cheeks, gloss for the lips, and a sweet orange scent!

This looks like a wonderful lip and cheek tint, and I love that it is all natural. It smells really nice!  I'll be saving this as a gift for someone.



Lather Ultra Light Face Lotion
- Shade: N/A
- Size: 1 oz
- Value: $10.50

LATHER’s most popular facial moisturizer, this gentle nutrient-rich botanical lotion is perfect for normal-to-oily, combination or sensitive skin. This lotion has a lightweight texture, absorbs rapidly and does not leave an oily film on the skin. Special ingredients, such as borage and grape seed oils, make this lotion especially effective for damaged or problem skin. Those with sensitive skin will find it gentle and non-irritating. Paraben-free.

Because this is for normal to oily skin, and my skin is drier than the desert, I am not going to open this. I'll throw it in my stash of items to give away.



Gallany Cosmetics Lipstick
- Shade: Petal
- Size: 2.2 g
- Value: $10.75 - I could NOT find how much the full size lipstick weighs, so I cut the retail value in half for my estimated value of this deluxe sample.

A luxurious lipstick that is infused with Hungarian Lilac Extract, Edelweiss & Hyaluronic acid for intense hydration as well as Lavender Wax to help repair and smooth lips. In addition, this lipstick delivers super saturated color that will truly make a statement.

First off, this lipstick smells amazing! It is the best smelling lipstick I've ever experienced. It's like a cross between white chocolate and vanilla.  I kind of want to take a bite out of it.  The packaging is super sleek, and I love how shiny it is. It feels luxurious. The closure is more secure than my NYX Butter lipstick (that just happened to be sitting right next to me so I could compare).

Petal is a rosey mauve color, and I love the satin finish. The texture is really creamy, smooth, and luxurious. While wearing it I can smell the delicious scent. It kind of makes me want to lick my lips.



Bag Value:
- Hikari Blush: $15.00
- theBalm eyeshadow: $3.29
- Mullin & Sparrow lip and cheek tint: $10
- Lather face lotion: $10.50
- Gallany lipstick: $10.75

Grand total: $49.54


Even though I'm for sure giving away two items, undecided on one item, and I'm keeping and using only two items, I think this was a great bag full of great products.


Interested in trying Ipsy?  I'd love it if you used my link!
https://www.ipsy.com/r/2mw1

Basin Scalp Soother Shampoo & Conditioner Bars First Impressions

Shampoo bars. Have you heard of them?

Shampoo bars are solid shampoo, essentially. They are little discs that look a lot like soap and they are meant for washing your hair.  They are great for travel, since they are not liquid. Generally they are highly concentrated and use essential oils and other ingredients that are really good for your hair and scalp.

Conditioner bars are similar, but instead of washing your hair, they're meant to soften, or condition your hair.

Recently I picked up the Scalp Soother Shampoo Bar and matching conditioner bar from Basin. And my first impression is: Impressive!


I think my expectations were pretty low. I was expecting it to feel like the time I washed my hair with bar soap (I was five years old).  Don't do that.


It didn't feel like that at all!

On Basin's website it describes the Scalp Soother Shampoo Bar as:
"Gentle ingredients clean and nourish without irritating the scalp."

Fragrance:
Peppermint

Recommended hair types:
Sensitive or dry scalp

Ingredients:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao seed oil), Icthamol, Fragrance



In the shower, I picked up the shampoo bar, got it wet, and rubbed it between  my hands until I got a nice lather.  I put the shampoo bar down, and worked the lather through my hair.  It was weird because I did not have much lather on my hands, but I felt like I had too much product for my hair!  It was overly soapy. I have very short hair (shorter than chin length), so I definitely don't need much, but compared to how much shampoo I use, this was much, much less. You can use very little of this, and it spreads easily through your hair.  Next time I will lather the shampoo bar for a shorter time before working it through my hair.


After shampooing my hair felt really refreshed and clean.  What more can I ask of my shampoo?  Plus, it smells really nice.

On Basin's website it describes the Scalp Soother Conditioner Bar as:
"Nourish hair in our creamy Pineapple scented Conditioner Bar made with nutrients to heal, moisturize, regenerate, and strengthen hair."

Fragrance:
Pineapple

Recommended hair types:
All types

Ingredients:
Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl, Cocoa Butter, Cetyl, Coconut Oil, Glycerine, Olive Oil, Fragrance, Jojoba Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, D-Panthernol, and Vitamin E. May contain: Blue 1, Red 40, Red 33, Yellow 5, Orange 4, or oxides.


There is a mistake on the website, because in the store the conditioner bar was advertised the same way as the shampoo bar: Gentle and non-irritating, peppermint scent. For dry and sensitive scalps.

From the lesson I learned with the shampoo bar, I didn't lather the conditioner as long, but it was harder to get a lather.  I worked what little I got off the bar into my hair, but it didn't spread quite as easily.  So I lathered again and got a little more worked through my hair.  It definitely worked at softening my hair.

On the website it says to rub the conditioner bar directly against your hair, so next time I will try that instead of trying to lather it.

The conditioner bar definitely smells like peppermint, and not pineapple.  It's the same scent as the shampoo bar.  The peppermint smell is very natural, much like the essential oil smells, if you've ever smelled that, just not quite as intense.  I have a peppermint lotion that smells very similar.



After using this my hair feels clean and silky smooth.  I'm really excited to use these for travel because I HATE taking liquids through security at the air port.

NARS Sheer Glow and Smashbox Primer Water First Impressions

After purchasing NARS Sheer Glow, I continued reading reviews online and watching reviews on YouTube.

My dad has always told me to stop shopping after purchasing something...

I should have listened.




I came across several reviews that said this foundation, while recommended for dry skin, is not good for dry skin.

I have dry skin!  I panicked.  I was worried that I was going to hate it.



These people said that Sheer Glow would cling to any dry patch on your face.

NOOOO!  My whole face is a dry patch!  I'm ruined!



So, how did NARS Sheer Glow pan out for my first try?

First, let's talk about how I applied it.

I washed my face, and did my normal skin care routine. I then spritzed my face with my new Smashbox Primer Water (more notes on this primer are below).

Nars Sheer Glow does NOT come with a pump, which is a bit disappointing, but I did know this before purchasing.  You can purchase a pump separately, for I think $5.

I poured some Sheer Glow onto the back of my hand, and I mixed what I call a "foundation cocktail" using about a dime sized amount of foundation and one drop of Tarte Maracuja oil. After mixing that around, I dabbed it on my nose, forehead, cheeks and chin.  I used a damp Beauty Blender and blended the foundation into my skin.


I have before and after pictures, but unfortunately, the lighting changes between my No Makeup picture and my Foundation Only picture, so it's hard to tell the differences.

None of these pictures are edited in any way.

Before, no foundation. Hair not up for discussion. ;)

After, one layer of foundation.

After one layer of foundation, the redness on my cheeks was greatly diminished, and the redness on my nose was slightly neutralized.  You could still see my freckles.  I would definitely describe it as sheer coverage.  The finish was what I would call "natural." It had a glow about it that looked like natural skin. I thought it was beautiful!  It did cling to the dry patches on my nose, but it was so minimal that it wasn't picked up by the camera.

I added another layer of foundation, to see how buildable it was.

After two layers of foundation.

I really liked the look of two layers! It's very subtle, but my nose is less red and my freckles are more covered.  The finish was still natural looking. The dry patch on my nose showed up a little more, but again, it wasn't bad at all.

I finished the rest of my makeup, and took pictures throughout the day, seeing how the foundation looked in different lighting.

Outdoors, 1 hour after application.

Indoors, about 1 hour after application.

Two hours after application.

Three hours after application. This was my favorite lighting - the bathroom at Sam's Club! (Hahaha!)

Indoors, about four hours after application.

I think this was 5-6 hour after application, and this was the last photo I took.

I think the lasting power was pretty good considering it lasted throughout talking the dogs for a walk outside in the Florida heat, a toddler climbing on me during lunch time, and shopping at Sam's Club.

I like the coverage, I love the finish.  Everything is going for this foundation!


My problem was with the primer. The Smashbox Primer Water was GREAT for moisturizing my skin, and giving it a great look. However, it did NOTHING for my huge pores. I shouldn't hold that against the Smashbox Primer, because it doesn't claim to help with pores. But seriously:

This was one hour after application.  The camera could focus on my pores. That is disgusting. After seeing this picture, I felt self conscious for the rest of the day.  Granted, no one will look this close at my face except me, but when my regular primer fills in my pores so they NEVER look like this, this was shocking to me.

So the Smashbox Primer Water got a big FAIL from my first impression, but the NARS Sheer Glow is great!

I will continue to play with this foundation with different primers. I'm betting I can get it to cover the pores with a different primer.  If not, I am returning it, even though everything else about it is perfect.

I'm going to try using the Smashbox Primer Water in different ways. I'll try using it before my normal primer, and I'll try using it as a setting spray, but I will never again use it alone under foundation.

Why I Wear Makeup