My package came in today. I ordered a few things using a Sephora gift card I received for Christmas. I love gift cards.
What I got: 
Hello Kitty Noir Eyeshadow & Lip Gloss Palette
Sephora Collection Bronzer
Make Up For Ever Powder Blush
Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath (got for free because my birthday is this month, tomorrow exactly & I’m a VIP member)
Three perfume samples (none I liked so not worth sharing)



I hate lip products that are in palettes. Eyeshadow ends up getting stuck onto it. I don’t really wear lipgloss anymore anyways. 


Here are a few swatches. The first color to the far left is actually the same as the one next to it. The four on the right is heavily applied with my finger and the one on the left is applied with the brush the palette came with. Most of these shadows will definitely need to be applied over a cream base (primer, concealer, etc) and with a denser brush for it to show up. The brush it came with is on the fluffy side, which is good for blending and the other side is obviously for the lipglosses. 


The cute, black Hello Kitty tin is why I got this palette. The palette has a $180 Value. The original price is $49, but for the holidays, it was on sale for $24. Still is…online at least. For the original price, I wouldn’t have gotten this. Shoo…I actually got it for free since I used a gift card. :P I could have saved my gift card to get the Urban Decay Naked Palette 2, but I already have the first palette. I don’t see that much of a difference between the two palettes. You can watch a comparison video on Sephora’s Youtube. Plus, I think I have enough palettes. And really…how many shadows do I need in the brown/nudey family? 


Left, Make Up For Ever Powder Blush in Rust Orange 36. The description online is a matte apricot orange. I think it’s pretty right on. I packaging is very cute and small (picture below). It costs $19 but its very pigmented. I’ve been looking for the perfect peachy blush, and I love this one. 
Right, Sephora Collection Powder Bronzer in Bora Bora. There aren’t many color swatches online for these bronzers. On Sephora’s website, they have five bronzers and two of them are matte. The other three are shimmery. I don’t really wear bronzers because I have a tan complexion, but I wanted a matte powder bronzer to use for contouring. I think shimmer on the cheeks is tacky (just my opinion). Online, the description said matte, but when I opened it…clearly there was some shimmer. It’s still really pretty, but the color came out lighter than I thought it would be. I could use it as a highlighter or a nudey eyeshadow :P Lol. This bronzer is $15. 




Left: bronzer swatch. Right: Blush swatch. These were taken with my camera phone w/ flash so the color isn’t exact. The blush is a tad bit brighter. Though the bronzer does look like that. Sigh, imma have to get myself a MATTE bronzer/blush/contouring powder from MAC one of these days. They’re about the same price. 

I haven’t blogged like this in a while. ^_^ 

One of those TLDR entries. :P “Too long, didn’t read” Lots of pictures though! Least you can do it look at the pictures. Took me all day to take pictures, resize, upload pictures, link ‘em, arrange ‘em, type out info, and reread everything. Lol.
All to share with you guys. ^^
 

Things I got in the last month. I usually don’t buy this much in one month, but I received a $250 gift card to Sephora for Christmas. ^^ I love gift cards. Thanks, B. 
Some of the stuff I got from Target and Victoria’s Secret (online).  

All pictures clickable. Do so with the smaller photos for a better view. 

Kat Von D Tattoo Chronicles Palette Volume I $39 ($180 Value): 1 pair of wicked false lashes, 12 eyeshadows, 3 primers, and a double-ended perfume roller in Saint & Sinner. I love Kat Von D products, even though Sephora made it. Sephora has great shadows. I have two To-Go palletes by Sephora. They are well pigmented.
Bought online because soldout @ store.
 
  

   

Three primers. The white one is slightly pink and shimmery. 
 
  

The fragrances aren’t really my type. Saint & Sinner.  

Tarte: The Jewelry Box. $52 The gold chains detaches and becomes a necklace. Love it. :) Comes with 32 eyeshadows, 8 lipglosses, a mineral bronzer, a shimmering powder, and 5 eyeliners. If you didn’t already know, Tarte is a natural brand that uses “skinvigorating ingredients”: vitamin AEC, grape seed oil, mineral pigments, and cocoa seed butter. No parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic dye, and synthetic fragrance. 
Bought online because soldout @ store. 






  
  

Lipsticks, lipstains, glosses, lipliners, eyeliner, etc.
 
The packaging on the Dior lipcolors reminds me of Maybelline’s Color Sensational lipsticks. Who jocked who? 

 

I’ve recently been into lipsticks now. Used to just wear lipliners and gloss over. I’m a little annoyed with lipgloss now. My hair is always sticking to it. 
Left to right: $26 each. 
Dior Addict Lipcolor in Hollywood Rose 753
Dior Addict Lipcolor in Rose Decollete 629 (My new favorite nude color. It looks dark, but I have tan/olive-colored skin. 
Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick in Flamenco Red
Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick in Backstage Pink (all the high shine lipsticks are sheer)


NARS Lip Gloss/Lip Stain Duo. $10 each right now, originally $36
Left to right:
Turkish Delight Lip Gloss
Sayonara Lip Stain
Metis Lip Gloss
Victoire Lip Stain This color looks really dark, but a thin coat on my lips..it’s quite nudey. The stains don’t really stain. Feels more like a thin, pastey, yet smooth lipstick. I can easily wipe it off. 

 
Left to right:
Maybelline Extreme Moisture Lipcolor in Roseberry $4-6. I love this color. I already had this, but I lost it somewhere. It looks more reddish-pink in natural lighting. 
CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Flame $6-7. I saw this at Target as a new product, so I wanted to try it out. It claims that it’s smooth..”enriched with silk therapy complex”, but it really wasn’t. Only thing I do like about this lipcolor is its staying power. This stains the heck out of your lips. Lol. I even rubbed makeup remover over it and all of it didn’t come off. This color is alot more “hot/neon” in natural lighting.
Victoria’s Secret VS Makeup Eye Liner in Dark Forest $8. I am currently obsessed with dark greens. The description on the website said nothing about being waterproof, but I tried rinsing it with water, smudging it, and it barely moved. I used this in my Black Swan makeup.  
Victoria’s Secret VS Makeup Lip Liner in Classic Red $8. It’s more bright in natural lighting.
Victoria’s Secret VS Makeup Lip Liner in Nude $8. This color sort of reminds me of a mauve-ier NARS’ Orgasm color; it has gold shimmer in it. The lipliners are like the eyeliners, smudgeproof/waterproof.  


Rosebuse Salve $6. This product reminds me of Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream. I never used EA 8hr, but I’m sure this product is similar. It’s like a petroleum jelly, only it smells like an old lady and it’s slightly thicker. I’m not diggin’ the fake rose smell, but I do like this product. I use it on my lips and cuticles. I wonder if the Minted Rosebud Salve smells better. 

 
Make Up For Ever Star Powder in White/Mauve 942 $19. In person, this color looks more like iridescent blue tiny glitter. This is really pretty. I would wear this more for partying though. 
The three other colors on my hand were the VS Makeup I tried to wipe off with a paper towel. I wiped hard too. 

 

I’m wearing Rampage right now. In the daylight, it is very green. 
Green: Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Rampage $14. I love love LOVE this color. It reminds me of OPI’s Here Again, Aragon Tomorrow, but more green. Out of all these products I’m posting, I was really looking forward to this. The bottle is very cute (0.5 oz., square is my favorite shape). I had to buy this online because the Sephoras in Estero, FL and in MI don’t carry Illamasqua. 
Black: Sephora Nail Polish in Chic & Rebel $5. I was impressed with this little bottle. One coat was very opaque. I think the price is a bit much for the size of the bottle, but it’s still a great polish. 

 
Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder in Stay Honey $20. Having an oily t-zone, I love this product. Lately, all I do for my makeup base is put on Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer, Amazing Cosmetic’s Concealer, and this powder patted over my t-zone and concealer. 
Sephora Compact Mirror. One side regular view, other side close-up view. This came with the gift card.
Boscia Peppermint Blotting Linens $10. I already have the other blotting papers in lavender & green, but I was running low. Not sure if this is just a holiday edition. Sephora always has these in the travel size area right before you checkout at the store. Lol. 

 
Shiseido The Makeup Lasting Lifting Mascara in Black $23. I love this mascara; my new favorite mascara. I have very straight down-pointing lashes. When I curl them with a curler and put on a mascara that isn’t waterproof, my lashes weigh down and end up straight again. All non-waterproof mascaras do this to my lashes because it’s waterbased and runny. Waterproof mascaras are a lot more waxier so they keep my lashes curled. I only use Shu Uemura to curl my lashes.
I’ve read reviews on Sephora and Google. Other women that have the same problem as me swear by this product. I tried it yesterday and I have to say, the other women were right. A cheaper mascara that gives me the same lift is CoverGirl’s Lash Blast, but the brush on that is fat/big making it kind of hard to coat all my little lashes. Since this mascara is so skinny and the bristles are so short, I coat all of my lashes very easily. When I wiggle this mascara at the base of my lashes, I get a good amount of volume. I don’t even need eyeliner. I don’t think its really a lengthening mascara. My lashes are long enough though. I just need volume to define them more and a strong enough mascara to keep a curl. 

The only down side of this mascara is that it’s really hard to get off. I use Neutrogena’s makeup wipes to remove all my makeup. It takes off my other waterproof mascaras fine, but this one, I really have to work to get it off (gently, of course).
I take the wipe over and under my upper & lower lashline to remove shadows & liner. Then I wrap the wipe around my index finger and use it as I would a mascara to remove the product off my lashes. I keep rewrapping my finger to a clean spot of the wipe until less and less black is showen.
With my finger still wrapped, I use the tip of my finger to run is softly over top and in between my lashes. Then I wash my face. I apply an eye cream under eyes, temples, and lids. Then I apply a lash serum (Talika or L’Oreal). 

This mascara is online shopping only.

I don’t think I would recommend this mascara for people who have longer lashes and/or a lot of lashes because the bristles are so short. It may get clumpy on ya. 
In the ever first picture of this post, I have a mascara from Maybelline. I bought it forgetting I was receiving the Shiseido one in the mail. No need to talk about that one here.

Samples: whenever you buy something online at Sephora, you get to choose three samples, which are usually perfumes. 
Lolita Lempicka. woody oriental scent. I like it, but I wouldn’t wear it. Not me. 
YSL Parisienne: floral scent. This is nice. I’m usually a citrus kind of girl, but I would wear this. It’s not overpowering. I would wear this as an everyday scent. Definitely a scent for my age (25) and up. 
Paco Rabanne Lady Million: floral scent. I wouldn’t wear this. Smells nice, but not me. This can be overpowering. Reminds me of an old lady version of Juicy Couture, which they do have a note that’s similar (Patchouli). No offense, if you’re older than me. :x

Two Looks I did with my new products:
  
Products:
Amazing Concealer in Medium with Sephora Professionnel Rounded Crease Brush #13
Clinique Stay-Matte Pressed Powder in Stay Honey
Kat Von D High Voltage Primer in Smoky with my finger
KVD eyeshadow in Poe Blue lashline to crease
KVD eyeshadow in Tijuana outer corners and crease
KVD eyeshadow in Nite Owl on lower lashline.
From Tarte’s Jewelry Box: a pale shimmery pinky shadow on the brow bone & inner corners. Black liner on upper lashline and waterline. 
Shiseido mascara
KVD false lashes
NARS lip stain in Victoire

  
The shadows in the Tarte Jewelry Box do need a primer. If you put it on alone, you can easily wipe it off with your finger. Here, I didn’t use a primer.
Products:
Same base as the previous look.
From Tarte’s Jewelry Box:
shimmery muted purple shadow from lashline to crease. 
matte dark gray shadow in outer corners
pale beige pink shadow on brow bone 
Copper eyeliner on lower waterline
Shiseido mascara
Dior Addict Lipcolor in Rose Decollete

Showing lipcolors against my skintone: Sorry for the crappy quality. All shot with my Nexus One (5MP) on different days. Last two, I was playing with the settings on my phone. :P

Wearing the NARS lip duo in Victoire with the Metis gloss over.

  
Dior Addict High Shine in Flamenco Red. With and without flash.

 
I should have taken better pictures this day to show off the MUFE Star Powder.
Also wearing Dior Addicting Lipcolor in Hollywood Rose, the black Sephora nail polish, and other products. After five days, polish started lifting on me at the corners. I didn’t wear a basecoat. Just two coats of the color and Out the Door topcoat. 

Thanks for reading! ^^ 

LOVE:
You’re probably thinking, ‘why would you love your oily skin?’. Lol. There is always a positive side, ladies. People with oily skin tend to tan easier and show less signs of aging. ^^ I don’t care so much for the tanning part, but big thumbs up to no wrinkles!

HATE:
I’m sure those of you who have the same skin type feel my pain. Let’s see…shiny t-zone, whiteheads/comedones all over my nose (at least for me), having a hard time finding products that don’t feel so heavy & won’t run down your face, etc. All of this can be very annoying. 

So, I’ve tried a good amount of products to know what works good on my skin. I actually have combination skin, but I’m really oily on my t-zone area. The only spots I’m dry are the sides of my mouth, a little on my chin, and jawline.

So here are some products that I love or like enough to use until I find something better.  

What: Laura Mercier Oil Free Tint Moisturizer SPF 20 in Almond. 
Where: Sephora
Price: US$42

I love this product. I live in Michigan and Florida right now. When I’m in Florida, its too hot to wear a foundation on top of an oil-free moisturizer. So I had to look for a tinted moisturizer that didn’t feel heavy, but still had SPF in it. Most products that have SPF in it feels very greasy. This product doesn’t. I want SPF in it to protect my skin from harsh rays of the sun. Even though I’m oily around my eyes and on my forehead, I still want extra protection from wrinkles in the future. 
Laura Mercier has a wide range of colors for foundations/tinted moisturizers. This one matches me perfectly. I found one tinted moisturizer that was oily free at the drugstore, which was Physicians Formula. The smell was weird and there were only like four colors; none dark enough for me. 
As for coverage, I’m fortunate enough to not need a whole lot of it. This product has enough coverage to just even out my skin tone.  

What: M.A.C Select Cover Up in NW30
Where: M.A.C and Department Stores
Price: US$16.50 
 
I’ve used this concealer for years. I have two other ones that I like, but I still come back to this one. It’s not too heavy and there’s lots of shades to choose from. 
I apply with with my finger and then buff it into my skin with a blending brush (thanks to Bobbi Brown & Pixiwoo). I squeeze a little on my ring finger, dab enough under my eyes, then run my M.A.C 217 brush over it in little circles and a ‘U’ shape. 
Tip from Bobbi Brown: use the concealer as a primer. I have Urban Decay’s Potion Primer, but I hardly use it. My concealer does the same job for me. And also, its one more less thing to carry in a makeup bag. 

What: Make Up Forever HD MicroFinish Powder 
Where: Sephora
Price: US$30

There is a great product. The powder is very, very fine. It makes your skin feel soo smooth. I use this to set my concealer and foundation, focusing on my t-zone. 

What: Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil Mini Refillable Buffing Brush
Where: Sephora and B.E Stores
Price: US$22, US$19 in reg. size plastic jar. 

I use this for the same reason I use the MUFE HD MicroFinish Powder. It doesn’t work as good, but it’s still good. There is a slight sheen/shimmer to it. I like the product because it’s easy to travel with. And I love that it’s refillable. 

What: M.A.C Fluidline & Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner. 
Where: M.A.C Stores, Sephora, both at department stores.
Prices: US$15 & 14.50
 
Both products are great, but one is even better. I recently started using Clinique’s liner and fell in love. It’s funny how the description of the Fluidline is a gel liner and Clinique’s is a cream one. I feel like they are the opposite. M.A.C’s Fluidline is thicker than Clinique’s. 
When I first started using Fluidline, I loved it. Over time, the product dried out and cracked. I only used half of the jar. I’m guessing because it’s in a glass jar, which gets cold? Well, I actually stopped using Fluidline and moved on with Clinique. 
Clinique’s liner is a lot more thinner. I don’t feel the need to drag it like I have to with Fluidline. This product is very smooth. 
Both products stay on very well with my oily lids. My eyes are also very sensitive, so they tear alot. I would choose Clinique over M.A.C for sure. M.A.C does have more colors to choose from, but I think most people just black or brown. 
There are two main brushes I use for this product. M.A.C 209 (US$17.50) and Sonia Kashuk Bent Liner Brush (US$5.99). There’s lots of brands that make the same. 
  
I use the 209 for a thicker line and the SKashuk one for a thin line. Sometimes I use an angled brush when I don’t have access to these ones. The other two are way easier, I think.

What: Blotting Sheets/Linens
Where: almost everywhere that sells beauty products
Price: usually US$4 and up

I like Boscia because they have a slight powdery feel to them. But all brands pretty much work very well. And I’m sure you’ve heard the tip about using toilet seat covers to blot; made with the same thing and way practically. Blotting sheets are a must for me. Probably the number one thing to carry if you have oily skin. I mainly blot my nose and eyelids. If I don’t blot them, my eyes will sting and my nose looks crazy shiny.

What: Clinique Dramatically Moisturizer Gel
Where: Sephora and Department stores
Price: US$11-35

Even though oily skin is, well, oily, you think you don’t need moisturizer. Moisturizer acts as a protective barrier from pollutants in the air. I like this product, but I’m still looking for something better. This is very light, but after a few hours, my face is shiny again. 

What: Revlon Colorstay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF6 for Combination/Oily Skin
Where: Drugstores
Price: US$6 and up

I like this foundation. Mainly because its for combination/oily skin and it has a little bit of SPF. The feel of the foundation is light. Coverage is medium to full. I don’t love this product, but its the best one I’ve used so far. I am looking for something that sets even more matte. I don’t like any shine on my face, but maybe you might want a little.
I want to try Clinique’s Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup. 

So those are products I absolutely love and a few that I just settle for until I find something better. Keep in mind, some of these products may and may not work you for. We all have different skin types. 

Thanks for stopping by and reading this one. Kinda long. :X