Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush #'s 5, 10, 40, 45 swatches

image courtesy maybelline.com

I picked up four different shades over the past few weeks, before my no buy went into effect. They're in the $6.50 (each) range, but I paid as little as $4.99 at a supermarket.

05 Fresh Pink
10 Pink Frosting
40 Plum Pink
45 Orchid Hush

I wanted to try 15 Rose Petal but none of the stores I went to had it. Several stores had very limited shades, usually 50 Plum Wine and 70 Hot Tamale. Double check any you plan to buy, it seems everyone likes to pop open the lids and sample them.

#40 is a little dented. Ian couldn't resist sticking his fingers in it.






Maybelline.com gives the following info:

Revolutionary gel formula provides a new bouncy texture.
Lightweight like a powder, yet melts seamlessly into skin like a cream
Natural sheer wash of color that is buildable for greater color intensity

I switched to cream blush a while ago; I avoid powder on my face whenever possible, including foundation, blush, and any finishing or correcting powders. It just sits on my dry skin and doesn't look nice.

All four of these shades work for me, even though 2 are on the warmer side and 2 are cooler. #45 Orchid Blush is my favorite, but the others do give me a pop of brighter color that I need from time to time.

I only use a minimal amount. The apples of my cheeks are usually reddish, and then higher up along the tops of my cheekbones, closer to my hairline, it gets redder again. I apply blush in the small area between these redder spots to blend it all in to appear as if it's well placed blush. Some days I'm not as red and I can apply a bit more. It's always a case of trying to make my rosacea work for me to look like a natural flush.

The blush can be applied either with fingertips or a brush; I prefer a small tapered facial brush. This also prevents the blush from squishing out of the container. Unless of course, you have a 6 year old who can't resist sticking his fingers in your blush too see if it really bounces.

They last a full day on my skin, and remove easily with my usually nighttime routine of olive oil for makeup removal followed by a mild soap wash.

I felt the shades were a little too close in color on my skin, but still enough that you could see variations. I'd like to see a wider range of colors, including a more purple toned plum. I'd definitely buy that!

Project 10 Pan

I'm long overdue for this! Here are the ten items I am going to finish up.





1) Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser

2) Yes to Blueberries Smoothing Daily Cleanse

3) DHC Washing Powder

4) Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer in 00 Neutral

5) Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer in 6 Yellow

6) Stila One Step Correct Primer

7) Yes to Carrots Moisturizing Day Cream

8) MUFE HD Elixir

9) L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara

10) Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara

The two MUFE primers and Stila One Step are nearly finished. I bought a new Stila One Step about a month ago using a gift card.

I'll throw in number 11, because I really need to clear this stuff out and make some room in my closet.

11) Samples! I have loads of samples, mainly from DHC Skincare, and a couple of Sephora samples. Most of the Sephora samples I received over the last year or so I knew I'd never use so I put them in a box & gave them to my coworkers. Eye shadow and lip product samples aren't included in this project. They'll be for next time.



During this project, I'm on a no buy. I've been on a low buy for a while now, but have renewed motivation to continue. Besides, shopping my own stash is long overdue.

Thanks for reading!

Makeupland = Not Always a Happy Place

There's various levels of drama going on within Makeupland on any given day. It's a topic many women are very passionate about, so those strong feelings can easily boil over.

It can start out as a very lighthearted comment being taken the wrong way. It can be someone openly attacking another. We've all seen it time and time again, and the last year or so it's really no surprise to read about new scandals just about weekly.

I'm not trying to point the finger at any one incident, group, individual, or company. I know I've been on both sides of it, whether I wanted to be or not. If you belong to makeup forums or any of the numerous Facebook Group pages, you're automatically assigned to one side or the other, whether you realize it or not.

It doesn't matter if you voice an opinion, or even try to remain out of it. It's very easy for others to drag you in and make certain Assumptions. These Assumptions quickly turn into Fact, with every other person reading them taking them for Truth. Once someone posts Truth about you in a public or private forum, or any of the supposedly secret Facebook groups, the hatred spreads like wildfire. And don't kid yourself, because once you've been assigned as Enemy, you'll always be Enemy. Ever discover someone who's labeled you as Enemy suddenly join a Facebook group you're in? Awkward!

No one believes that they are part of the mysterious glitter mob. But that word pops up almost daily, and everyone's quick to point the finger at the opposing side, insisting they're the ones with the mob mentality. Weird, huh? What strikes me as odd is that ladies that could once be considered friendly suddenly turn on you and say things that are not only cruel, but downright vicious. I guess I've never been good at reading people - women in particular - so maybe I'm surprised more often by it.

It's worse when companies get involved. What, there's not enough drama without? Why any business owner would choose to involve themselves in it is beyond me. Is it really worth it to potentially destroy your reputation, your business? But we've seen it, time and time again. Sometimes it's hard to sit back and watch companies you love self destruct. People feel like they need to defend themselves, which can never really be done. Sometimes it's just easier to let people think what they want and move on than try and change their minds.

It's harder to see companies get sucked into it unwillingly. How many owners sit around weeks or months later, wondering how they became collateral damage? It makes it stranger when good people lose out, while others that openly participate in shady practices continue.

There seem to be fewer and fewer that allow themselves to be drawn into it. It always makes me wonder how long they can keep going without allowing it to interfere. It's hard enough for a small indie company to make any headway; they really have to rely on word of mouth to get noticed. We've seen so many implode under the many pressures a new business brings.

There are so many wonderful indie companies offering products superior to the big brands, but it's sort of like watching the clock to see how long before something goes wrong. It's sad, because the only thing it's done for me is create an aversion to trying out new companies. Many get fantastic reviews, only to be gone before they make it to a year. How much do you want to invest, financially and/or emotionally, into finding your holy grail product, all while wondering when it will end and you'll be back to square one?

All that being said, I'd like to give a nod to the guys at Fyrinnae. They consistently manage to avoid it all, and how they do it is a mystery to me. Makes you wonder how crazy they think women really are, doesn't it?

Again, I'm not referring to any one incident, group, individual, company. I'm thinking of all the things I've read about and sort of lumping them into one. I realize there's a million other Facebook comments and blog posts about this very topic, so mine is just a small drop in the bucket.

So why post anything at all? I just feel like it's something I need to type out to get it off my chest and move on. I hope that anyone who feels similarly can do the same. Thanks for reading.

24 February Quick Update

I've been swamped the last two weeks! I did purchase a few items that I'd like to get swatched, but the weather hasn't cooperated. I'm hoping I can get pictures taken one day next week, get all the posts written and lined up in the queue.

I also recently received some information - it's not bad, it's good. It's something I sort of knew but receiving confirmation still surprised me. I like to have a plan, and although I thought I had one in place, this information makes me rethink things. So I'm busy recalculating. I'm sorry to be so vague about it, I'm just not ready to spill quite yet. If you're wondering, no, absolutely not, no pregnancy announcements.

That's about it. Just figured I'd post something so you all know I'm still here.

Brownies

I tried this "Better than Ultimate Brownies" recipe from gourmeted.com and it's definitely my new go-to recipe for brownies.

Ingredients:

5 one oz squares of unsweetened chocolate
3 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butter (that's 2 sticks!)
5 eggs
2 3/4 cups sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1 tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 9 x 13 pan.

2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate squares and chips, and butter; set aside.

3a. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla at high speed for 10 minutes (stand mixer recommended for this). Add melted chocolate mixture, salt and bread flour and mix until just blended.

3b. Let the batter sit on the counter for 20 minutes before pouring into the greased pan. Let air bubbles escape by tapping the pan.

4. Bake for 30 minutes and test with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, take the brownies out to cool before serving.




I put my big Kitchen Aid stand mixer on speed 3, set the timer for 10 minutes, and the egg/sugar/vanilla mixture came out super light and fluffy.




While the mixer was going, I cut the chocolate squares into small pieces to help everything melt evenly. I used regular sized chocolate chips, since Ian likes the mini chips for his pancakes.



Slowly swirl in the cooled chocolate mixture. If it's still warm, temper a little of the sugar/egg/vanilla mixture into the chocolate first so you don't get scrambled eggs.



Then add in the bread flour and salt



I put lots of walnuts in one pan*. Brownies always taste better with walnuts.



Out of the oven, cooling nicely. Oops, a crack. Well, can't have perfection every time.



The edges are nice and crispy without being burnt, but the insides are moist and delicious.


* Although the recipe calls for a 9 x 13 pan, I don't have one. I used two 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 pans (1 1/2 qt square Le Creuset bakeware, image courtesy LeCreuset.com)



I sprayed Pam cooking spray in each pan. I poured half the mixture in one pan, then added walnuts to the other half and poured that in the second pan for my non-nut loving coworkers. I baked both for exactly 30 minutes.

This recipe takes a little more time than a standard brownie recipe, and certainly an extra stick of butter, but definitely worth it.

Saturday Snow

Snow is falling....

Tarte Maracuja Lip Scrub & Maracuja Lip Whip swatches

QVC had two different maracuja lip products featured when I placed my order a few weeks ago. These two sets are currently QVC exclusives.

The first was the Maracuja Lip Scrub & Maracuja Lip Gloss Duo, which was the maracuja lip scrub, a sample bottle of maracuja oil, and one of three full size glosses. The three shades: Adored, a cotton candy pink; Blushing Beauty, a sheer plummy rose; and Natural Beauty, a sheer cherry red. A little travel sized bag was included, $28.50. I watched the presentation and couldn't decide which shade of gloss I wanted. Sounds silly, but that was the only reason I didn't order this set. It'll be nice when it's in the stores so I can sample the shades.

The second lip item was the Maracuja Lip Scrub & Four Maracuja Lip Whips. I didn't see the presentation but did watch the QVC video. This was $38.27. I decided to go with this set, thinking that I'd rather spend the extra $10 and get at least one shade that looked good on me. I'm glad I did, because I really like three of the four. Peony is the only shade I'm not crazy about, simply because I'm not a peach / coral fan.



The instructions for the lip scrub are simply - just rub a bit on your fingertip, then massage into and around your lips, then wipe/blot off any excess. The sugar does a great job exfoliating. I've used plain old sugar to do this, but the maracuja oil really does help moisturize my lips. It has a pepperminty scent / slight flavor and while I'm not normally a peppermint fan, I really like it. The scrub is for every other day, and I find that using the scrub at night means I don't end up with sugar all over my lips when I'm trying to put the lip whip on.



The lip whips are a nice gel like, creamy consistency. You can use your finger or a lip brush to apply. Feels nice and light, moisturizing, and has a slight peppermint scent to it, but not as strong as the scrub. It's not really sticky, I would say just barely tacky (and not as in bad taste tacky), but doesn't make me want to rub it off. Lots of lip products feel really disgusting, these don't.



Staying power is really hard for me to say, because I usually put the whip on right before I walk out the door. I get to work and usually eat or drink something, and end up eating the color right off in the center of my lips. I wore the Champagne shade and made sure I didn't eat or drink anything, and was pleased to see it lasted for about four hours. Of course I got home and ate, so who knows how long it really does last. I realize this isn't very helpful, but I I like to eat ;)

I did read a few reviews that said the tins are tough to open. They don't pop off, which is a good thing. Only one tin took a little work, the rest came off easily enough. I make sure I push the lids down tightly, because I don't want to risk the whip drying out.

I don't think I'd put these in my purse during the warm weather. They're not runnny, but I could see forgetting about it, leaving it in the car, and having melted lip whip all over the place. During the cool weather it shouldn't be a problem, but time will tell. There is maracuja oil in the whips, so I'll err on the side of caution and keep them home. They all have a nice bit of shimmer to them too.

The pic is outside on a sunny day, no flash. You can see the shades are all sheer.



Sheer Red is more what I'd call berry pink, not red. It's gorgeous, definitely my favorite shade of the four.






Peony is a sheer peach. A bit too coral-ish for me, but still a pretty shade. I ought to mix it with one of the others.





Pink is a slightly warm sheer pink, kinda bubble gummy color, my second favorite.





Champagne is a sheer nude. I didn't think I'd like this one, but it looks nice with a darker eye. It's the first nude shade I've actually liked on me.




I thought it might be easier for everyone to judge the colors on my arm, rather than try to figure out how they'd look on variously pigmented lips. I hope you've found them helpful, and thanks for looking!

Maybelline Color Tattoo - Pomegranate Punk, Painted Purple

I was grocery shopping Wednesday afternoon saw Pomegranate Punk and Painted Purple. There was only one of each left, so I figured what the heck. They were $5.99.

My camera flash has been acting weird lately, but doesn't the purple look gorgeous?


without the flash the purple didn't look as nice in the jar :(






I haven't worn them yet but will probably go with the purple tomorrow.

Maybelline Color Tattoo - Too Cool, Tough as Taupe, Audacious Asphalt

I picked up three neutral shades of the Maybelline Eye Color Studio 24 Hour Cream Gel Shadows at WalMart. They had them in two different places, one display box on the side of an end cap which was ravaged. I found a second display in the aisle with all the other Maybelline items, and that one was better stocked.

These were $5.84 for .14 oz / 4g. They're made in USA. I wanted to stick with neutrals, even though there are some wonderfully vivid shades available.



Tough as Taupe is a bit darker than what I'd call taupe, but a very wearable shade. All of these shades look good alone or with loose shadow patted on top for extra sparkly goodness.







A small, flat brush is recommended for these shadows. For the swatches, I used a tapered wet/dry brush. The shadow goes on creamy, blends easily after it's applied, no blobs or gloppiness (this means you, MUFE Aqua Cream in Snow). Like many cream products, if you wait too long to blend, it becomes more difficult. I've used all three shades and they all lasted 8 hours, no creasing.

Just a weird note, when I swept the brush across the top of the Tough as Taupe, the cream in the jar looked kinda grey. First I thought my brush had something on it, but nope. (I wash my shadow brushes daily, since I never know what shades I'll want to use from day to day.) I used a cotton swab and same thing, so it's just something about that color. The other two didn't look any different in the jar after I used them.

These are in glass jars with plastic lids. I gave the lid on one a really tight twist and the lid didn't crack. I used DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil to remove these shadows, and they came off cleanly with no staining. I don't know if any of the vibrant colorful shades will stain skin.

I know lots of ladies are comparing them to MAC's Paint Pots. I don't have any of them simply because I can't see spending $17.50 on one. But I like them much better than the three MUFE Aqua Cream shades I purchased. After using those a few times, I passed them to a friend. These Color Tattoo creams make me want to go buy the Painted Purple and Pomegranate Punk shades. These are definitely worth the $5.84!