Current Nightly Skincare Routine

Since I am nearly at the end, I thought that I better share quick!  I have been happy with the Simole eye makeup remover and recently had the Simple micellar cleansing water in my cart but promptly returned it to the shelf until I finish up this bottle!

The sketchy white powder in the red tray is rice powder which I use as a brightener and exfoliator.  Nothing fancy but a bag of Bob's Red Mill lasts for ages.  I simply add a generous pinch to my cleanser, add water and its the perfect grit for my skin.

I follow up cleansing with Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid.  I have combo/oily skin that has a tendency to become quite congested if I don't stay on top of things.

The Sukin eye serum I grabbed over the summer at a TJ Maxx in Roanoke, Virginia.  It seems to be working alright.

I then make another homemade mix.  Vitamin C powder with my current nighttime moisturizer Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial.  I like to mix the Vitamin C powder with a thicker crew..

I don't not rally keep the cap off the powder for this long.  It tends to deteriorate quickly when exposed to light and air!

Soon I will need to replace the eye makeup remover and cleanser.  I have plenty of replacements for the cleanser.

But I quite like this routine for its simplicity and effectiveness.  My skin is clear and smooth.  

Day time is coming up!

MakeOut 2105 Update!

How's it going?  :)

I decided to check in to my Makeout 2015 blog post and see how I was doing since I just "participated" in Sephora's November VIB sale.  So much for the updates in May and September.  Oopsies.

Finally ordered Giorgio Armani's Master Corrector which I vowed at the beginning of this year to purchase.  Happy to get 20% off during the VIB sale last week, well over the weekend.  I literally just hit submit, panicking that I wouldn't get the 20% off.  Luckily it was still saved in my cart.  Thank you Sephora!  It only took 11 months to finish 90% of 2 concealers.  But I stayed the course and held off on making a purchase.  Dwindling down the makeup collection is still the goal!  

Looking through my purchase history this year at Sephora and I'm not seeing much.  In February, I ordered L'Occitane Shea cleansing oil which I really liked.  I have a draft blog post in March about my current skincare routine at the time that I think I will still publish.  Products have changed since then but it was a good routine!  I am almost out of my current routine so I will share that as well.

In April, I ordered the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops and cashed in a ton of points on samples.  I eventually returned the Cover Drops.  I of course researched for a good month before purchasing.  I'm not sure if it was the wrong color choice, G20, or the fact that I couldn't get it to blend or mix well with the products that I had at the time, but I just couldn't make it work for me.  I'm tempted to order N20.  

This year, I fell back in love with my Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation.  I have 2 shades, 52 and 53 which I mix depending on how light or dark my skin is at the time.  This foundation is really working well for me.  I'm working on a current foundation/makeup routine post...  :). Lovely dirty caps.

Fast forward to October, my 3rd order of the year just came in last week.  I used my quarterly Ebates Cash Back as a gift card to Sephora to purchase the Sephora Beauty Sleep favorites since I was/am running out a evening skincare products.

It contains Korres Wild arose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream, Ole Henricksen Invigorating Night Treatment and Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night oil.  It's a great set but I wish I didn't spend $30 on it.  Luckily, this purchase was covered by my Ebates Cash back gift card but I forgot all about the VIB sale that launched 2 weeks later! 

Also picked up my first Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light.  I thought it was on sale for $22 but as it turns out, it is a small travel size.  I am very tempted by the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette but at $80, I need to make sure that I really like the powders first.  :)

So as for makeup purchase for 2015, I'm under the 5 makeup purchases!  I also sold a few unopened/unused eyeshadow palettes.  I will start working on my inventory for 2016 but as far as purchases go...

Armani Master Corrector was on an exception list so it doesn't count for the 5.

1. L'OREAL Infallible Pro-Matte 24 Hour Foundation in 104 Golden Beige

2. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup in 2N1 Dessert Beige

3. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

4. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

Of course the foundation purchases were no-no's and not authorized in my contract but I was looking for a darker foundation for the summer.  I also have a tough time when my skin changes in the Spring and these 2 purchases were a result of the search.  As it turns out, Bourjois has been my saving grace all year.

But the takeaway...  Only 4 purchases all year!  (So far...) I'm not really sure that the mascara purchase counts because I used up all of my samples.  :)  This was bought over the summer during my only CVS trip of the year over the summer for practically free of course.  I've been that good all year!

Does anyone remember SavvyBeauty's 100 pan challenge in 2011....  Hmmm?  Well recently, I discovered a YouTuber who is conducting her own Project 100 Pan, autumnmoore08.  So...  Guess what I'm going to launch very soon?  You guessed it, another Project 100 Pan Challenge for 2016.  Already made my list!  

Of course it will include samples, hair care, skincare, bodycare, makeup...  I have more 100 items that I could use up.  Scary!  I'm not going to include basic shampoo and conditioner since my family usually shares those items but treatments, deep conditioners and hair masks; those will be included.  More on that later!

Finish 7 by Spring Finale!

Finish 7 by Spring didn't turn out as well as I had hoped in the makeup department, but I did go through quite a few products.  They are all spread out in front of me, sorted in their categories.  I kept a brown paper shopping bag in my bathroom for empties and it's time for me to get everything into the recycling bin!

Let's start with skincare.  I had talked about the Isomers line in my last update post.  I am really liking this line.  I have been using it every night with noticeable results.  My face is more even toned, smoother, firmer.  Everything has changed about my skin appearance from using this product line.  I've read some reviews, they are not exactly positive but I'm going with the results that I see in my skin.  Big changes.  I expected to finish up these bottles in 3 months but I over estimated how fast I would finish them.  I think that I have 1 month to go.

 

I did finish OleHenricksen visual truth eye cream and I finished up another L'OREAL Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Eye Cream.  I really liked the L'OREAL.  I will consider repurchasing in the future.  I have another sample eye cream currently in the works and I was planning on buying the Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream next after using up some sample foil packets of course!

I finished N7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing water which I love and is no longer sold at Target.  I purchased a cleansing oil for its replacement which I will talk about in my updated skincare routine which will be coming up next.  I really like cleansing waters but cleansing oils really dissolve all of my makeup.  I use cleansing waters and cleansing oils as makeup removers and always follow both up with a cleanser.

Also in the skincare category, I have several other empties.  Korres Pomengranate Grenade Cleansing and makeup wipes were a holy grail for me last year.  I've gotten away from wipes but they are still good in a pinch.  Botanics Hot a Cloth Cleansing balm was next for me used up.  This is very thick stuff.  My water does not get hot enough from the tap to use this most effectively.   When I did have time to use this, I would massage it on to the skin for a minute or two and add some rice flour to exfoliate.  I would gently wipe away with warm face cloth and follow up with a cleanser.  My skin felt very nice after using.  I would need to use a separate eye makeup remover.  I really like using the cleaning oil right now as it is one step, not 2.

Additionally, I finished up a Cetaphil cleanser, Josie Maran Argan oil light and a Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial.  I finished up 2 masks.  Boscia Luminizing black mask, which wow, this pulls off everything.  I broke a capillary under my eye, which is my fault, do not apply on any delicate skin.  Luckily, it wasn't permanent and took only a couple days to reabsorb.  Maybe as I am aging, my skin is becoming thinner and more delicate.  I did not notice any crazy changes or benefits from using this product.  This sample size has enough for 3 uses.  I do enjoy peel off masks but I'm not sure if this will be a repurchase for me.  I also finished a sample of Origins Clear Improvement.  This has active charcoal which my deep pores really need.  I enjoy sample sizes so that I can mix them up often.

 

I'm throwing in 2 Body Shop Lip butters in Mango and coconut.  The mango one has dried out and the coconut one leaves an uncomfortable filmy feeling on my lips that I just can't handle.  Currently I am using a lip balm from Kiehl's.  When that is finished, I am going to try the Dior Creme De Rose.  I don't want to feel a film.  I've become quite particular.  Back in the day, plain cherry Chapstick was good enough for years.  Maybe I should try it out again...

On to makeup...  I have come to the conclusion that I will never finish an eye shadow palette or a color tattoo.  I'm okay with that fact.  I will continue to use them until they expire and I feel that is quite good enough for me. I like variety, I cannot do the same eye look every day for months on end.  Maybe I don't pile it on enough.  Summers are tough on eyeshadow in NC humidity.  My smokey eye days are numbered...  However, I did finish a couple of things.  AVON Glimmersticks Chromes in mocha flash, Milani Easybrow in Natural Taupe and Physicians formula Concealer Twins.  The Milani doesn't have a ton of product, the Concealer Twin dried out and I always finish up AVON Glimmersticks.  They stay put on my oily skin and in the heat and humidity of North Carolina Summers.  Glimmersticks are winners.

I'm also pitching 3 foundations this go around.  I've added a couple foundations to my collection in the last couple of months (oops, I'm like a chameleon, so frustrating) and it's time to say bye bye to Revlon Colorstay Whipped.  I believe these are 3-4 years old, Sand Beige is newer actually which I may keep.  I have 150 Buff, 200 Sand Beige and 240 Natural Beige.  I use Buff in the center of my face and Sand Beige around the perimeter and outer cheeks.  Natural Beige was always too pink for me.  It's a good foundation but I could never quite get it right every time I used it.  It liked a certain moisturizer and my skin needed to be freshly exfoliated or this foundation would stick to every dry patch or it would just find them.  I have oily, combination skin and this would also slip off or catch in different areas of the face with certain primers.  Bottom line, I need quick effortless blending for my everyday use.  I liked to use this for special events at night where I knew my photo would be taken.  I've replaced the Colorstay Whipped with a higher end foundation which I will talk about soon!

I tried out 3 different brands of cotton rounds/squares.  Out of this round, I believe the Ulta Premium Round Cotton pads won in terms of quality but Target cotton rounds win in the price category.  I have about 5 squares of the CVS premium cotton squares left.  They work well but just a touch linty.  This is not something I want to spend a lot of money on but I also do not want to be left with cotton bits sticky to my face because ultimately they end up in my eyes.  I'm sure I will be in Target soon to pick up a new package.  I have seen a review on the White Cloud Cotton Squares on Amazon but since I am using the cleansing oil, it dissolves nearly all of my eye makeup so a separate remover is unnecessary.  Maybe I can hold off for a while...  Actually, I need cotton for toner! 

Now on to Bodycare!

This is a huge category for me every time I do empties so I will just stick to the highlights...

 

Nivea In Shower Body Lotion in Shea Butter.  I really love this stuff.  Olay has a similar one thst my husband gave me for Christmas years ago.  I never found it again.  It does make things slippery in the shower when it builds up, meaning if you use this every day and skip a week of cleaning, it's going to be slippery.  However, every other day, cleaning of the shower once a week, I haven't had any problems.  I enjoyed using this during the cold winter months that we have been having down here in NC.

Victoria Secret Pear Glacé is my all time favorite scent.  Takes me way back to my undergraduate years where I think I made one bottle last about a year.  $12 was so expensive back then.  Maybe it was more back then actually.  $17 seems to be the price I remember.  Hmm...  But anywho, I bought this a couple of years ago and was saving it for who knows what.  I will repurchase.

c Booth Nourishing Bath and Body Wash.  I bought a lotion and 2 other body washes on a sale at Ulta and used a coupon and rewards.  Bought all for for under $10.  There is nothing truly remarkable about this body wash that can be doubled as a bath.  It smells nice, feels good.  There are no parabens, sulfates, mineral oil or petrolatum in this product which I can appreciate as some of those do have some conclusive and inconclusive studies pointing out their effectiveness, ineffectiveness, toxicity to the body...  It's all too confusing really and opinions run high.  After looking briefly at the ingredient list, this product from c Booth doesn't seem too natural.  I have 3 more products to go from this line...  

And 3 bars of soap.  I guess that means I use about a bar of soap a month. I grabbed the men's care because it was on sale.  I usually stick with Dove.  A huge club pack of the pink bars were on sale last week at the commissary so I have 12 to try out during the next year.

Hair!

I left this one wide open.  I have a ton of samples and fixing my hair in the morning usually consists of brushing and possibly curling.  It just takes so darn long to dry my hair! I did just recently invest a brand spanking new Hot Tools Limited Editions Precious Metals in Titanium as my trusty old Revlon 1.5 spring finally sprung on the clamp.  I've had it for a few years, 2-3.  It never held a curl but smoothed things out so it worked.  The Hot Tools works a little better and the curls lasts for a couple of days.  Not perfect like those YouTube hair wizards, but good enough for my imperfect being.

 

I did finish lots of shampoo and conditioners, so like bar soap, I finish approximately 1 shampoo and 1 conditioner every month.  Mental note... I have 2, maybe 3 pumps of the L'OREAL OleoTherapy Perfecting Oil Essence.  This product is really nice to use on the ends of the hair.  It doesn't weigh down or add any grease.  It really extended my last haircut for at least 5 months.  And that was one of the best haircuts I have had down here in NC.  Finding a hair stylist that I can trust has been such a challenge down here.  I usually ask for the long layers, pointing out exactly where I want them to start, I don't dare ask for fringe, occasionally I want angles in the front starting an inch above my shoulders.  I specifically ask for no triangle point, I want my hair level in the back.  Once have I found someone who listened.  I just went back to her again and boom, all wrong.  Luckily, I'm a huge fan of piling my hair on top of my head in a bun...

I really enjoy using the Bumble and Bumble line and I still have a ton of sample and travel sizes to use.  But I use the Tonic on my scalp and the Prep Spray after every hair washing which is usually every other day.  I also enjoy using Aveda products and have a few more samples as well.  So need for me to buy any hair products for quite a while.

Oh and two boxes of dye.  I am having a really hard time finding this hair dye.  In fact, it's difficult to find any semi-permanent/washout hair dye.  I use the same color 21 every time I color my hair but I like that it rinses out because there will come a day when I am sick of dying my hair and will embrace those greys...  Well not anytime soon but I really want all the length of my permanent hair dying days to eventually grow out and be cut off so I will be left with semi "natural" hair after those "28 washes.".  I've tried some semi-permanent colors at Sally's but this Clairol Natural Instinct just has that perfect color.  It's just dark enough and it gives a little warmth. Is this being discontinued?  I can only find it a Ulta.  These were the last two boxes on the shelf, different packaging to boot.  Eeek! 

So a ton of stuff is headed to the recycling bin!  I think I covered most things exhaustively.  Bottom line, I use a lot of products and have a lot of empties in 3 months.  My bathroom cabinet is still full of products but this was a good jump start.  I will continue using and not purchasing or realistically, continue using and purchasing less...  Which I have been good at.  Currently I have only 1 replacement shampoo and conditioner for the set that is almost empty in the shower.  Still have a ton of lotions and potions...
 

"5 by Cinco de Mayo" is the next tag so I will pick out 5 products in each category.  I might skip makeup.  5 products is not happening for me!  Not a pessimist, but a realist.  Actually I can think of 2 products that are nearing the end so maybe this go around I will get lucky in the makeup empty department.  We shall see!

More on that later!

Pan that Palette 2015 Update!

First month went swimmingly.  Used the Naked palette every day and fell in love all over again.  I started using the right side of the palette more, specifically Gunmetal.  I found that layering Toasted over Gunmetal has a nice effect and became my favorite look.

Month 2...  Still continue to use the Naked palette and realize that I'm not seeing any progress and become discouraged.  Silly, I know.  Then I think, there is no way I will be able to pan this palette and how is it even possible.  Do I not pile on my shadow enough? How do people do it?  I can't possibly use this palette every day for the entire year...

Partial Month 3...  Hmm, maybe I did make some progress.  There seems to be deeper dips in Virgin, Sin, Naked and Side Car.  Tiny dip in Darkhorse and Toasted.  Not bad...  

The starting point...

Maybe you can sort of tell a little progress...  :)

I will keep at it!

Finish 7 by Spring Update

So much for the February update!  Whoopsies...

I can tell you that I have a brown paper shopping bag filled with empties which I should probably dive into but I have some other products just about empty so I will keep you in suspense for just a couple more weeks.

But for progress, I can share!  I am loving the Isomers line and probably won't finish the set until at least April.  My skin has changed for the good and I really don't think I should venture out and try anything else.  I am having a difficult time finding the line.  I found some products on Amazon and websites that I have never heard of before.  I will need to do some more research.  But of course summer is coming and everything can and will change...  But lately I have been enjoying my normal skin.  

The Maybelline Color tattoos...  Probably never, ever going to finish...  Not a pessimist over here, just a realist.  Bodycare I always fly through.  Hair care...  I'm trying my best to use product, but time is of the essence in the morning. Shampoo and conditioner?  Easy peasy.  Serums, spray, styling aids...  I guess I'm more of a minimalist.

Skincare is a different story!  Currently I'm searching for the perfect daytime SPF and have purchased 3 so far...  

Olay Complete all day moisturizer with SPF 15

Aveeno positively radiant daily mositurizer with SPF 15

L'OREAL men's expert Vita Lift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming moisturizer  Pro Retinol with SPF 15

The last one was a random, clearance purchase for $2.  I couldn't pass it up.  It says non-greasy, but I disagree.  It is a touch sticky if left alone.  However, my skin has needed extra moisturization lately.  The smell is strong, total man smell but I don't really mind it.

Olay Complete was my first purchase.  I'm not sure how my skin is getting along with it.  I've used this one the longest and I can't seem to use it every day or my skin reacts with clogged pores.  

Aveeno seems to be the best for my skin.   It absorbs nicely and dries down after a few minutes.   Im didn't like it under most of my foundations this winter.  Most if not all my foundations are matte formulations.  So this moisturizer under a matte foundation looks a bit dry on my skin.  I'm hopeful as soon as the humidity returns, this will work out well...

And another issue with all 3...  SPF of 15 is not enough for Southern Summers.

I will check back in on March 21st of shortly thereafter with all my empties!

How is your Finish 7 by Spring going?!

Finish 7 by Spring: Intro!

This is a tag that is flying around YouTube and I am totally down with finishing these 7 products!

Like the Finish 6 by Christmas tag where I ambitiously chose 6 products in makeup, skincare, body care and hair care, I will choose 7 for this challenge!  End date: March 20th!!!

Skincare:

Over Christmas break, I was gifted some items from the Isomers line.  I haven't heard of these products before and just tried them all for the first time tonight.  In fact the routine I just used, I want to use up for this challenge.

1. Isomers ReNew Triple Action Amino Neck and Decollete Exfoliator
2. Isomers Matrixyl Advanced Wrinkle Defense Serum
3. Isomers Matrixyl Advanced Wrinkle Defense Cream Day and Night Formula
4. Isomers Neck and Chin Firming with Ovaliss and Essenskin
5. N7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing skin
6. bliss daily detoxifying toner
7. OleHenriksen virtual truth eye cream

Makeup:

1.  Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque (it's endless!!!)

2.  Tarte Smoothe Operator Amazionian Clay Finishing Powder (also endless!!!)
3.  Physicians Formula dual concealer
4.  Maybelline Color Tattoo Bad to the Bronze or Barely Branded or Barely Beige (there are so many in my drawer...)
5.  AVON Glimmersticks chromes in mocha flash, 1/2 inch left!
6. Milani Easy Brow in Natural Taupe, unable to twist up.  :( (it's a gimme, but I need at least one!)
7. L'Oreal Magic LUMI Highlighter

Body care:

I'm going to add some items that I didn't finish during the Finish 6 by Christmas Tag.  We travelled unexpectedly and there wasn't enough room for all the full size products I was trying to finish up!

1.  Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Eucalyptus spearmint body cream- since used but still relatively full

2.  St. Ives fresh hydration, 1/2 can?  It lasts forever it seems.
3.  Boost Bodywash
4.  Caudalie Dry Oil
5.  Jergens Gradual Tan, virtually unused
6.  A sample of perfume (not really body care but I have so many sample perfumes!)
7.  Julep Hand and Cuticle Stick

Haircare:
 
I'm just going to leave this one open to the many deluxe sample sized products I have.  So I will fill this in as I finish them!  This first one I'm definitely starting with is L'OREAL OleoTherapy Perfecting Oil Essence.  :)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Are you doing this challenge?

I'm gathering up 5 more items for 5 by Cinco de Mayo now!  I'm not going to do categories, just 5.  But one will be a Color Tatoo for sure.  

Good luck!

Pan that Palette Challenge 2015

I'm doing it!  I am going to pan the Original Urban Decay Naked Palette in 2015!  Just seeing that it is possible to use up an entire eyeshadow palette is really inspiring.  Sounds silly, we are talking makeup, but my Naked palette is already 4 years old!

I have some dips in Virgin and Naked.  This is 4 years of use and I'm going to try to pan this is 1 year?  Lol

I have already fallen back in the love with it by using it exclusively the past week.  I have all the Naked Palettes, 1, 2, 3, and both Naked Basics.  I love them all.  So if I'm successful I will pan Naked 2 in 2016 and Naked 3 in 2017.  Woah, slow down...

Panning for me will not be completely emptying the shadows as AmberF on YouTube.  You have already seen above how long it takes me to dip into a shadow.  :) 

I'm definitely going to try my best but for me and how I use shadow, that will be impossible.  My goal is to hit pan on every shadow for me to successfully complete this challenge.  Seems fair, right?

I plan on using the Naked Palette 5 days a week and using something else the other 2 days to keep myself from boredom.  But I have plenty of Color Tattoos to mix things up.

I will check in once a month or once every couple of months to show my progress!

Wish me luck!

Are you in?!!

2014 Year in Review...

Happy New Year!!!

It's time for the good, the bad and the ugly of my 2014 makeup purchases/splurges!  Will there be a Make Out 2015?

I did a Mid Year Wrap Up post, where I added a few items...

The Bad

Two were gifts!  Bourjois Healthy Mix brought over from across the pond by a friend in my winter and summer shades, 52 and 53.  Kind of wish I had 51.  :)  

The Good: I gave away a whole lot more a month later...  I also have away the L'OREAL Magic LUMI foundation.  I really wanted to love that Flower Beauty palette...

The Ugly: Here's what I added during the second half of 2014: whoopsies...

Tarte tartelette Amazonian clay matte palette ($20 off VIB purchase, $24)

Julep Stargazer Gel Eye Gliders (used points to purchase-free!

Julep Sweep the Photogenic Palette (used points to purchase-free!)

Urban Decay a Habitual 24/7 Travel Pencil Set ($12 clearance, plus free shipping!)

Tarte waterproof brow mousse in Rich Brown ($28 but the next item was free!)

Lorac 3D Luster Drops (free with Tarte brow mousse Beauty.com purchase!)

AVON Supershock ($5.99 sale)

AVON Extralasting eyeshadow pencil in rich cocoa and smoky plum (sale $3.99 each)

AVON Glimmersticks in blackened night and moonlight brow ($1.99 each clearance)

Maybelline instant age rewind concealer in light and Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid-touch Foundation in 60 ((Ulta BOGO 50% off, $4 coupon for the foundation and $3.50 off $10 Ulta coupon)

20% VIB sale- $70.44

Too faced Bonjour Soleil palette 

Urband Decay Smoked Palette (clearance $29 and 20% off!)

Benefit Bronze n'Dandy

Maybelline Fit Me pressed powders in 210 (clearanced at Ulta ~$4) 220 (40% off at Rite Aid ~$4)

Naked2 Basics (In my stocking from Santa and he used a 20% off coupon!!!)

Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara (In my stocking from Santa!!!)

Roughly $243.43.  $60 a month if you divide by 6!  Not too bad...  I will always buy Urban Decay.  Plus, I sold some unused makeup and nail polish on eBay to defray this cost as well.  Go me!  :)

In depth: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly for 2014.

Concealers:

Kind of good?  I used up 2 Maybelline Fit Me Concealers in Light and Fair and have serious pan showing in my Bobbi Brown Corrector which was included in my Finish 6 by Christmas.  I didn't finish it so I am going to put it toward another challenge. Overall, I finished 2 concealers and added 2 more.  Still have the same thoughts and feelings of the others. See here.  I'm going to part with the Physician Formula concealers.  I just couldn't get them to work for me.  I did open up the Revlon DNA and it is very light.

Eyeliners:

The bad:  I added way too many liners which I have not yet opened in the second half of 2014.  Anything older than 2 years as been sent to the bin.  I have some work to do...

Brows: 

The Good: I finished my ybf automatic brown pencil from a YouBeauty Testtube. I added a Maybelline pencil which isn't a good match but picked up the Tarte brow mousse and Santa brought me the Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara.  I'm very happy with my routine right now.

Lippies:

Kind of Good: I didn't finish any but only added 2 sample size lip glosses in Dandelion and Hoola from the Benefit Bronzed n'Dandy set.

L'OREAL Infalliables

The Good:  Did not finish any but did not add any!

Maybelline Color Tattoos

The Good: Did not finish any but did not add any!

Palettes 

The Ugly:  I added Naked2 basics, Tarte tartelette, Julep Sweep, Lorac Pro to Go, Too faced Chocolate Bar, Maybelline The Nudes, that limited edition Wet n Wild palette, Urban Decay Smoked palette and Naked Basics2.  All solid purchases if I do say so myself...  :)

Powders:

The Bad:  Discarded two, but added 2...  Physicians Formula and a Maybelline because the color was just off.  Added 2 FitMe pressed powders.  220 is a touch too dark, 210 seems to work well. Still working through the Coty Airspun which I have 2 of, translucent and naturally neutral and have almost hit pan on my NARS Light Reflecting Setting powder.  There is a tiny pin size hole forming in the middle.  :)

Mascara:

The Good: I finished several samples of Urban Decay Supercurling mascara, a full size L'OREAL Butterfly which my lovely mom bought for me over the summer and a full size Almay that dried out really quick.   I only purchased two this entire year (Almay and AVON superSHOCK) and haven't opened the AVON as of yet because I am working through a Lancôme that came to me from L'OREAL consumer testing.  I also received a few more at the end of the year from Sephora sample bags so I should be good for the entire year of 2015.  After re-evaluating this last statement, I think I will need at least one full size.

Blushes:

The Good and the Bad:  I purchased the Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot from Ulta which I didn't include in the photo above because I'm pretty sure that I will be selling it.  I called several stores within driving distance and ended up having a store 40 minutes away hold their last one for me.  Can you say obsessed?  I haven't opened it yet.  I let go of 3 blushes this year.  Leans more towards good if I sell the Benefit.  

Bronzers:

Kind of Bad: I finished Sonia Kashuk undetectable cream bronzer.  I picked up the a Benefit Bronze n'Dandy sample set because I have been wanting to try Hoola for years and Too faced Bonjour Soleil palette for the same reasons for chocolate soleil matte bronzer and sun bunny.  I didn't quite finish NYC Sunny but I almost feel good letting it go.I want to see that pan!

Highlighters:

The Good:  I did receive a sample sized highlighter with purchases but I did not purchase any.  Also I feel that I have used up the L'OREAL LUMI enough to discard it since it is nearly 4 years old I believe.  I also gave away 2 so I'm working with 3 samples and a full size. My sister had a tiny Mary Lou Manizer which I have been wanting to try forever!

I never formally established a Makeout 2014 but maybe I should have.  One thing I learned from 2013, do not go into a drug store and pretty much, I followed through with that.  I didn't coupon and did not come home with bags of products.  

The majority of the products, well all really, were bought on sale or clearance or came from cashing in on earned points.  I did indulge in the Sephora VIB sale this year more than years in the past thanks to some money earned from eBay sales.  That being said, I will propose the parameters for...

Make Out 2015 !!!

Coming Soon!!!

How did you do with your makeup purchases this year?  Any splurges?!

Makeout 2015

"When is enough, enough?" -as asked by Christine, otherwise known as Pinksofoxy on YouTube. 

I watched all her decluttering videos in 2012/2013 and even participated in my own Make Out 2013 where I evaluated my spending habits, discarded old makeup and carefully bought what I needed but still managed to add 8 concealers and 25 lip products.  Oops. 

But I was able to justify purchasing 25 lip products because with coupons, rewards and clearance prices, my out of pocket expense was just shy of $25.  Do I use them?  Yes of course. Do I need that many?  Still debating it out with myself.  I didn't buy any more lip products in 2014...  Though I did add 2 sample sized lip products that came in the Bronze n'Dandy set from Benefit that I picked up from the Sephora VIB sale.

Proudly, I carried over what I learned in 2014.  I stopped shopping drugstore clearance sales.  Just because they are only $1 after rewards and coupons, I don't need to bring them home!  I bought one mascara for the entire year which still hasn't been opened... (1 was gifted to me.)   Go me!  But this year I also failed, especially in the eyeshadow palette and foundation areas. Still looking for that perfect, flawless foundation...

Well now that 2015 has already started off fast and furious, I have created some parameters for Make Out 2015!  I introduced this plan in my previous 2014 Year in Review blog post.  We will hopefully be selling a house (fingers crossed!), buying a house, retiring from the military and moving to another state in 2016 so I'm giving myself an entire year to rid myself of the excess in all aspects of my life. 

Enough is finally enough!

Pinksofoxy recently showed the world her Makeup Inventory 2014.  I'm going to include my skincare, body and haircare items.  I recently was gifted and given some things over the holiday in the skincare and bodycare categories so I counted up everything and here it is below:

2014 Makeup Inventory
12 Lipstick
3 Lip liner
9 Lip gloss

6 Lip balm
5 Balm stain

8 Revlon Colorburst
32 Single eyeshadows
16 Small eyeshadow palettes
12 Large eyeshadow palettes

18 L'OREAL Infalliables 

29 Maybelline tattoos 
27 Pencil eye liners (11 unused/unopened)

1 Liquid eyeliner
4 Eyeshadow sticks
4 Eye primers (3 deluxe samples)
4 Brow products
8 False eyelashes

2 Mascara
10 Foundation (2 Bourjois, 3 Revlon Colorstay Whipped, 3 Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid, CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous, L'OREAL True Match W3)

2 BB cream

1 CC cream

4 Highlighter (1 cream, 1 liquid, 2 pressed powder)
5 Concealer
2 Corrector

2 Primer
14 Blush 

4 bronzer

2 contour
5 Powder
4 Setting powder (3 deluxe sample)

4 Setting spray (2 deluxe sample)

2014 Skincare Inventory

3 Facial sprays
1 Gel Cleanser
3 Cream Cleanser

4 bar cleansers
2 Toner
2 Makeup remover
2 Makeup remover wipes
1 Enzyme mask

1 Overnight treatment mask
5 Clarifying mask (2 full size)
1 Dermabrasion
4 Treatment

2 Salicyclic acid treatment

3 eye cream
1 Day Moisturizer with SPF
3 Night Moisturizer

3 Facial oil

2 serum
2 Décolleté treatment

2014 Bodycare Inventory

4 Spray lotion 

7 Scented body lotion

1 Gradual tanning lotion

2 unscented repairing lotion

4 travel Nivea tin
1 Body oil

7 Body gel/cream body wash

2014 Haircare Inventory (all travel size unless indicated)
5 Oil (2 full size, 1 unopened)

6 Smoother (1 full size)
8 Blow Out
1 Dry Shampoo
1 Dry Conditioner

2 Shine spray

3 Texture
7 Styler/spray (1 full size)
5 Prep/heat protectant

2 Spray conditioner/detangler

With these numbers, I should not need to purchase a thing in 2015!  To reiterate, a lot of these items, especially the hair care items are deluxe sample sizes.  In order for this to work, I will allow myself a few purchases in 2015.  I have been wanting to buy the Girogio Armani Master Corrector for a couple of years now so as long as I finish my Bobbi Brown Corrector, I can purchase the GA.  However, I will not add to these numbers, the purpose of the makeup inventory is to decrease the numbers!

I will allow myself to take advantage of the Sephora VIB sales in April (my birthday month!) and November.  The Giorgio Armani Master Corrector will need to be purchased from Nordstrom since it is not sold by Sephora at the present time.  Another item that I have been seriously considering is It Cosmetics CC cream because of the high SPF.  But that may change...

So here is my contract which has been signed, dated and currently taped to my bathroom mirror!

Make Out 2015

I will allow myself 5 makeup purchases for the year 2015. These items may only be bought during the Sephora VIB sales in April and November and all other months will be excluded from purchases. 

*Exception for Giorgio Armani Master Corrector at Nordstrom.

1.  _________________________________________________________
2.  _________________________________________________________ 
3.  _________________________________________________________ 
4.  _________________________________________________________ 
5.  _________________________________________________________

*Excluding: basic hair care, basic body care and basic skincare which can be purchased when the last product in that category has been used up entirely.  See Parameters below.

Makeout 2015 Parameters

Before purchasing items during the VIB sales as outlined above, I must use up/discard expired and unused items in that category.  I will not add numbers to my Makeup Inventory.

1. Finish all current concealers, discard concealers not in use/older than 2 years.  

2. Finish Bobbi Brown and Olay Correctors.  

3. Finish all Mascara including samples.

4. Finish all current BB and CC creams.

5. Finish all current foundation, discard foundation not in use/older than 2 years.  

6. Finish all powders; foundation, mineral, pressed, loose, setting.

7. Finish all current eyeliners, discard eyeliners not in use/older than 2 years.

8. Finish all skincare items; setting spray, cleanser, toner, mask, treatment, facial oil, day and night moisturizer, eye cream.
9. Finish all hair care items; primer, stylers, spray, oils, treatments.

10. Finish all sample sizes before purchasing full size anything!

X_________________________________________________________
                              Signature                                         Date

I will check in quarterly in March, June, September and my finale in December!

I will also be participating in the Pan that Palette 2015 Challenge started by AmberF on YouTube, Finish 7 by Spring (March 20) and Finish 5 by Cinco de Mayo (May 5).  Join us!

More on those later...