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.  :)

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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...