The Daily: March 20th, 2023

In a season of yo yo weather, this weekend we had snow. Not a lot, just enough for people to step outside and marvel as the the tulips and late daffodils became frosted. I am not opposed to cold this deep into March. Mostly because of Easter. I remember every Easter I shivered and was freezing in my pretty summery Easter dress.

Admittedly so was every other little girl in church. Why do you do that? Everyone knows that Easter morning is going to be cold. And yet every year Easter dresses are made of thin summer weight cloth. Which you have to wear winter tights under and cover up with a coat. My Easter dress usually had a cardigan I would wear because they would take the coat off when you got to church so you could show off your pretty Easter dress. Unfortunately at our church they decided to stop running the heat because March was so warm and the building would be frigid on Easter morning.

Every Easter service I went to started off with a comment about the sudden cold snap that was so unexpected.

I think it might have been some sort of endurance test for little girls.

But I digress. Snow in March isn’t that unexpected. It only feels really strange because we had those 80 degree days in January and February. It feels like instead of progression from one season to another they decided to take all of the weather possible for the entire season and shove it into a blender before doling it out randomly.

We did get alerts for record lows all weekend so that made it feel extra strange. And all of the garden chores we had lined up were postponed. Soon my shallot and onion seedlings are going to have to go out though. They are getting to the point where the ground is necessary. They are strong enough to withstand a little cold, so I’m hoping when things warm up on Wednesday they will stay warm for long enough to let me get them out and established. I can cover them overnight after that, I just need them to have a little time before settling in.

This weekend we did start the Spring cleaning. As you might have guessed it did not include the opening of windows and airing out of the house. That, will wait for a weekend without snow. In between I ended up binge watching the Mayor of Kingston on Paramount+. It’s pretty good. I wasn’t sure I would like it but I needed a break from some of the other things I have been watching so I gave it a try. I didn’t get through the whole series but I got enough episodes watched that I am kind of hooked so I will watch the rest of the season at least. I know not terribly productive, but there was cleaning and snow. And now today is back to work.

Today’s Look

Pre Makeup Base: Embryolisse Lait Creme Sensitive

Primer: Tatcha The Silk Canvas Primer

Foundation: Yensa BC Skin on Skin Foundation

Yensa now has a Yen rewards program where every purchase earns you points that you acn use to spend on the site.

Bronzer: Trestique Refillable Bronzer stick

Blush: Jane Iredale Blush Stick

Setting Powder: Beseme Cosmetics Aurora Pink Blush

Eyeshadow: Dominique Cosmetics Unconditional Palette

Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Extreme Lengthening magnetic mascara

Brows: Grande Cosmetics Brow Fill Volumizing brow gel

Lips: RMS Lip Gloss in Darling Lane

Setting Spray: Ciate London Watermelon Burst setting spray

Today my skin was feeling a little bit dry. I think it is mostly due to the weather changes. So I went in with my Embryolisse first. It is just a great hit of extra hydration before the makeup goes on and I really love it. And yes I did lose the cap to this so I am using a pencil eraser as a stopper and will be working to finish this cream and pick up a new one. It is something I always have on hand.

The Tatcha is my favorite primer and to be honest I went for the primer, foundation and bronzer because I wanted quick easy and good. These three are among my favorites. Tatcha blend out the fine lines making my skin looks smooth, the Yensa is light weight and fabulous and the Trestique is a dream to blend. The Yensa is a bit glowy so I use a setting powder to tame it as well as to set it and I am fine with how it turns out every time.

The blush is the Jane Iredale. It is a cream blush stick. The white tube already has foundation stains on it. The product is nice though. It does need a little warming up to blend out properly but once it is warm it is really good. Warming it just takes holding it in your hand for a five to ten count, then it is fine.

Then there is this Beseme powder. You know I have been looking for a good pink powder since Becca went under and the Pink Haze was no more. This is it. It is a pressed powder instead of a loose one, but I don’t mind that. I picked up the slim line compact from Beseme. It is refillable and all of their powder pans fit inside. I went with the pink toned one from the 1950s and it was exactly what I have been looking for. It goes on well without looking powdery and the pink tone brightens winter sallow skin. It also set the foundation well. And I love that it is refillable and not terrible expensive. Plus this compact reminds me of something my grandmother carried in her purse so I love having it around. In general I love the styling of Beseme’s products as well as the products themselves. I am definitely going to be using and refilling this for a while.

I am so tickled to have finally found the powder I have been looking for.

This Dominique Cosmetics palette is a six pan palette. It is really well thought out for easy use. I used the lighter pink as a base, added the crimson to the outer edge and blended, then added the shimmer with the matte white to the inner corner. I did not use the glitter today as I wasn’t feeling the glitter (it also is the only shade with fall out) but I used everything else. It is a great quick palette that performs well. I need to remember to take it out more.

I love my benefit mascara. this and Bad Gal Bang are my favorites so I have no problem reaching for either. The lips today were a lip gloss that I vaguely remember trying out but couldn’t remember how I felt. So I decided to give it a try. the color is nice, It is more pigmented than I expected. It feels like a cross between a lip gloss and a lip balm on the lips. It was sticky slightly at first but that went away almost immediately. It doesn’t dry down at all and does leave lip prints everywhere. The color wears off but even after the color is gone my lips feel hydrated. I think this too is a product I am going to have to remember to reach for more often.

And that my darlings is me today. Personally I like how things turned out. And I am over the moon about the Beseme powder. But now it is back to earth and the continuation of the regularly scheduled work day. Hope you are having a good Monday my darlings.

The Daily: February 15th, 2023

Apparently my taking a chunk of the day off to get pampered caused a chain reaction. This morning my computer decided that it too needed to be pampered and called in all the updates it could possibly fine and then refused to do anything until the updates were given.

I spent a large chunk of this morning watching lights that circled and lines that filled in along with ever growing percentages. I think part of what happened is that I thought my babydoll was taking care of the updates and he thought I was doing them so they didn’t get done.

Until today.

Today was updates gone wild.

and now things are working well. Or better than before. it is a rather old computer I will need to get around to replacing but it is one of those things that is always such a pain. Even with things shifted to the cloud it is always a mess I generally spend an entire month going to click on things only to realize they aren’t there any more and it is a new system or I didn’t download the software or a million other things. So I have been putting it off. I am not entirely certain how long I am going to be able to to that for, but for now, things are fine. I am hoping to put it off until the summer when things slow down a bit. But we will see.

So slow start this morning and then catch up the rest of the day. Since I was already planning to work a little late to make up for yesterday, I think that today and possibly tomorrow will be long days.

but it was so worth it. My babydoll scheduled an appointment at the day spa for me. I really need to get massages more often. I know I say this after every one, which has honestly been a little over two years. But now that there is a place near me that I trust. I need to make it a routine thing again. I was going once a month as a treat to myself for staying on track for weight loss. then i got off track. And the day spa shut down for a while. But now I am back on track and the day spa has reopened.

I’m not sure when I will schedule it, but It is a good self care moment that isn’t that expensive. So maybe I will sit down with the calendar this weekend. But until then…

Today’s Look:

Primer: the Butter Hydra silk Primer from Beauty Bakerie

Foundation: NARS All day Luminous Foundation

Bronzer: Milk Makeup Bronzer Stick (from the Use Up Box)

Blush and Lip: Axiology Color Cream in True

Setting Powder: Elf HD Setting Powder

Eyes: KVD Beauty single Shadow in Lolita (from the Use up box) and Almay Velvet Foil Cream Shadow in Out of the Woods (080)

Mascara: They’re Real Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara from Benefit Cosmetics

Setting Spray: Ciate London Watermelon Burst Setting Spray

I am loving this Butter Primer from Beauty Bakerie. It is a stick formula and so easy to just glide over the skin an blend in. It does make my skin even toned and soft as silk. I wish it were a little more pore filling, but that is because I really love pore filling primers. This isn’t a pore filling prime but it is a really good one.

I haven’t used this NARS foundation in a while and the only reason is it is a little on the light shade. It is a beautiful foundation I just need a shade darker. At this time of year i can get away with it, but soon the spring gardening will begin and that will no longer be the case. I like it enough though that i may get one of my bronzers to help me out with the slight darkening of the foundation so i can keep using it.

Speaking of bronzers I am making headway on using up this Milk Sample. I don’t do a whole lot of bronzing. Just one swipe for cheek definition and that’s it so it is taking me a while to work through this. It may go into next month. I am making progress but it is slow. I don’t mind actually as the reason i want to use it up is because I want to order it in a full size.

Tomorrow I will have the full review of the Axiology Color cream up and will start to trade it out (I do have two other Axiology products to try so they will rotate in and out as well) but I really don’t want to. it is a really good cream blush and It just works so well. Today I went and used it as a lipstick as well. It is a multi use stick (I use a brush and take product from the side rather than the top when i use it on my lips. I use the top for cheeks) so that was fine. Mostly when I sat down to do my makeup I forgot lipstick (I know Shocking, no?) and so I rolled it in. it works well as a lip product. it is well pigmented and it feels like a lip balm. It isn’t my favorite lip product, but it is one of my favorite cream blushes so I am happy to just keep this for cheek use.

Today I opened a tinted Elf setting powder. I like elf setting powder but specifically picked this up because I want to replace the Becca Pink Haze Pink setting powder. This is good setting powder but it isn’t the same. there is a tint to it, but it isn’t quite what I wanted. So the Pink powder quest continues. It is good setting powder though.

The KVD single shadow is one from my singles box. I tend to forget about single shadows so I am trying to put one in the use up box every month and I am rolling them in and out. This is one of my favorites as I can easily just wear it alone. I did pair it with the Almay cream shadow today. This was my first try of it. The shadow came in a Chic Beauty Box. I realized when I got it that I have not tried any Almay products in a really long time.

And a copper shadow is not a bad way to get me to try.

I dispensed it on my hand and used a brush to apply it to my lids. This worked well. It went on smoothly and was blendable with a fingertip. It has stayed in place all day without budging or creasing so thus far i am happy with it. I also have a streak of it on my hand as when i wiped it off there was a stain. I am going to take it off with makeup remover later but it does make me wonder if it will stain the lids. It is really easy to work with though so I need to make a plan to play around with it.

I topped it with the magnet They’re Real from Benefit. The length on these lashes today! I love it. This is an always keep on hand product if you like lengthening.

I did use a setting spray today as well. I am trying to remember to use them as I have several I need to use up. i tend to go for the more skin care sorts of sprays and forget the setting ones completely. So I am making an effort to use them. I like this one. most of the spray is a fine mist but there is one straight shot of liquid that sprays out of the bottom. I think the spray is clogged. I’ll try to cotton swab it clean later and see if that helps. The one wonky bit sprayed down over my hand rather than on my face so it was fine and the scent of watermelon was nice especially on a cloudy, gloomy day like today. And so my darlings that is me today. Chugging along and trying to catch up. over all though now that my computer has been sorted, it hasn’t been a bad day.

The Daily: February 8th, 2023

Welcome to Wednesday my darlings. Halfway through the work week already. That wasn’t so hard was it? Okay it felt a little difficult for me, I have to admit. Given that last weekend was less than relaxing I am very much looking forward to this upcoming one. None of the normal weekend chores were done and so I am not only feathering them in after work hours, but trying to get as many of the ones I would do this weekend knocked out early so that this weekend will be an oasis of rest and calm.

At least that is the plan.

I am also taking advantage of the slightly warmer temps to do some yard work. With the growing season not actually ending until October this past year, there were a few things that were missed. The one basil plant that got neglected in the final push to gather everything sent out seeds everywhere and I am betting this year if we have nothing else we will have basil galore. Which I will never complain about. I will happily eat it fresh and fill my freezer with frozen pesto. While I am okay with it taking over a larger space than planned, I am worried about the bulbs. They are already starting to come up and it is way too early for them. We normally get daffodils in late February, grape hyacinths in March and then my tulips are in their glory at Easter. with the recent warmth all of the bulbs have started to come up.

So much of the garden work is preparing to shield them from their early arrival since we now have temps dripping and snow as a possibility on Friday. that’s right, we are getting out the garden blankets and putting up the frames to keep the plants from being crushed and finding all the ties needed to keep the wind from stealing the blankets.

Somehow the ties have been the hard part. They seem to have disappeared and so my babydoll is picking up rope on his way home from work. If we get all of that set up by Friday then there will be no real chores for the weekend and we can recover.

Which is probably far more than you wanted to know, but it is February and my thoughts have turned towards the garden. which reminds me i still need to get my final seed order in so that I can start the seedlings. they need to be strong before they venture outside. but for now…

Today’s Look

Primer: Pink Lipps Soft Matte Primer

Foundation: No 7 Lift and Luminate Serum Foundation

Bronzer: Milk Makeup Bronzing stick (from the Use Up Box)

Blush: Axiology Multi Stick Color Cream in True

Eyeshadow: KVD Vegan Beauty single shadow (from the use up box) and Elf No Budge shadow stick in Rose Gold

Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Magnet Mascara

Lips: Axiology Multi stick Tinted Dew in Humble

From the use up box I chose the Milk Makeup Bronzer and the KVD Single Shadow. I love the milk Makeup bronzer and hope to use up this sample so i can purchase the full size. I have a personal rule about that actually. It is to keep me from wasting product. Because I know as soon as I get the full size I will stop using the sample. Plus if I can’t make it through an entire sample, chances are I won’t use up the full sized version and that would be a waste. So I am using up the Milk bronzer sample before I order a full size. I really like it actually. It is creamy and blends well without needing to be warmed up. The KVD is one of my single shadows. I tend to forget about my single shadows, most of which I have decluttered so someone else can use them. A few I have kept. I don’t expect i will use up this shadow this month, but I like having it in rotation.

I did pair the KVD shadow with the elf shadow stick. It is a shimmery rose gold and the combo just works for the coloration and it was a simple easy look that will stay all day. I really need to order more of these shadow sicks. The shimmers are fantastic and stay all day, but elf now has matte ones and if they work just as well that would be such a quick and easy go to for hurried mornings. For now, i love the shadow stick I have and I am glad using this single shadow means I reach for it more often.

To complete the eyes I did go for the Benefit mascara today. I love the formula and have purchased it a couple of times already. I will likely purchase it again. it is now a staple for me.

I know this was out of order but I did choose the No 7 foundation again partially because it was out and partially because I just love how it performs. It does work best with a primer under it. Today I went with the Pinklipps soft matte primer. It is soft, it is matte. It is also a little waxy and if you use too much it can get greasy. But if you lipit the use it is quite nice.

Today I went with Axiology for both cheeks and lips. The Color cream may be my go to cream blush. It blends beautifully for a soft flush and can be built up. I like a very light blush and this just works perfectly for me. i know it can be used as lipstick, whcih I did yesrday to great effect, but I really love it as blush.

The Tinted dew however is a fantastic barely there lip product. This shade is my lips but better. It feels like a lip balm but has a light tinted to it, hence tinted dew I suppose. For me it is a good low key lip look.

Personally i really like how things turned out today. Fairly low key, but it suits both me and the day so I am happy with it. And so back to work I go. Hve a great Wednesday my darlings and I will see you bright and early tomorrow.

The Daily: February 6th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. I hope you had a fantastic weekend and that Monday is treating you well. This was a interesting weekend for me. Friday was just a hot mess. I didn’t even remotely get a chance to do my Face Mask Friday. A project that I thought was done went super nova and it was all hands on deck.

I have several 3 minute face masks ready to try out though, so I might roll one of them in place of the sheet mask this week so if you are feeling like you missed your face mask fix, stay tuned.

But the fun didn’t stop there. My babydoll is not a fan of crowds at the best of times. He tends to have a set group of people he likes and then he wants the rest of the world to just leave him alone. He is one of those people that very much enjoys social distancing and he is really sort of hoping the distance thing becomes a permanent thing. I love him dearly but he is not a people person.

But for Valentine’s Day, he tries.

Usually it is a bit of a compromise. We tend to go out for Valentines Day but we go out the weekend earlier and then just have a night in on the actual valentine’s day. So since Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday this year, he reasoned that the weekend of the 11th would be when everyone went out to celebrate. And so we went out this weekend for the dinner out. We had a grand night out actually. We went to a concert and then went out to dinner. He bought me tulip bulbs for the garden as a gift. I am very happy with that actually as I have been talking about expanding our small tulip bed. well area maybe more accurate, but you get the picture. Not only did he get me something I like, but he was actually listening when I talked about the garden. (In case you are wondering I got him a box of his his favorite high end chocolates – he has a far bigger sweet tooth then I ever will – and some kit for his beer making endeavors. he was tickled by the new gear although I have to say I have very little idea what I actually picked up. He keeps a wish list and I saw one of the items was in stock so that’s what I ordered.)

It was a really great night. And then we got food poisoning from the restaurant.

It wasn’t the stomach pumping kind of bad, but it did sort of ruin the rest of the weekend. Nothing else was done. No routine errands or household chores. Nothing. I am now up to Season seven (out of 16) of Criminal Minds thought. with the release of the new season on Paramount + I started at Season 1 and began working through the seasons to reach the current one. I am now about midway through season seven. while I love the show, there is something almost therapeutic watching people take down serial killers when you are curled up under a blanket on the couch with a wonky tummy. I also confess, I like the weird episodes. There was one this weekend where the killer turned people into marionettes. It was a good episode. Anyway Paramount+ has them all so I am working my way through until I get to the current season. And this weekend was a good weekend to do some binge watching.

Because I wasn’t going anywhere or doing anything productive.

While I am better, and need to restock the Pepto Bismol, It wasn’t a restful weekend and it feels like I needed another day. Still the work week arrived as predicted so here we are. I do think I am going to feather in all of the missed chores during the week this week though so I can just collapse next weekend. At least that is the plan.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Pinklipps Soft Matte Primer

Foundation: Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation (discontinued – from the use up box)

Bronzer: Milk Makeup Bronzing stick (sample size from the Use up box)

Blush: Axiology No Waste Multistick Color Cream in True

Powder: By Terry Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Powder (sample size from the Use up Box)

Eyeshadow: Wander Beauty Wanderess Escape Palette

Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Magnet extreme lengthening Mascara

brows: GrandeBrow-Fill

Lips: Axiology Zero Waste Multisuse Crayon in Nude Plum

Okay my darling’s we will take it from the top, because we have some really interesting things in today’s line up. First is the Pinklipps primer. This is an interesting primer. If used sparingly, it is quite fantastic. It creates a nice softly blurred canvas for the rest of the makeup to sit on. The pink tone helps even things out in my skin tone but I have pink undertones to my skin so if you don’t have that, it might not help. It does give a nice matte look to the skin which I like. However if you use a little too much this formula does tend to feel a little heavy and greasy. So I put just a little bit where i need it most and then blend out. Which seems to work for this primer. i am still playing with it so I’ll keep you posted, but tat the moment that seems to be what is working.

The Bite Foundation is fantastic but discontinued so it is in my use up box. My hope is to finish it out this month so I can let it go. The same holds true for the By Terry Powder. it is good but not my favorite formula so i am using up the sample size I have this month so I can let it go. The Milk Makeup Bronzer also comes from the use up box, however it is there for a different reason. It is a sample size that I want to use up so that I can purchase the full size. While I love samples because they give me a good idea of how the product actually works, if I like it I make myself use up the sample before I purchase the full size. I really like this bronzer, so I am am using up the sample in order to purchase the fill size.

And now we get to the Axiology products. I don’t know if you have heard of this brand but it is well worth looking into. they very kindly sent over a few products for me to try so they will be around for the next few weeks (and probably beyond) while i try them out. They are multiuse products with sustainable packaging. There is no metal or plastic in the packaging. it is all paper and all recyclable. I’ll get into all of the details of that with my fill post of the brand but if sustainability is important to you I recommend checking out their website to see how they are doing things. The links in this post will take you to their site.

But a good idea is only a good idea if it works. And so we start the product testing. Today I use the Multi stick color cream as the blush and the Multi use crayon as my lipstick. For the blush the color I used was True. I dotted it on to my face as I would a stick of cream blush and then blended with a damp makeup sponge. (Currently I am using the Beauty Bakerie Blending eggs for this. They are just the right density. I don’t like my makeup sponges too hard in general, but for this you will also want to avoid the too soft ones. they never seem to work all that well for cream blushes. Other things, yes, but not most cream blushes, so go with a medium density).

I only needed a couple of dots and then it blended into a really nice blush. I really like this shade and actually i think that this is also multi season in shading for me as well. I started with a single dot of product and blended out and it gave me a very light flush. I added a second dot and it blended as well and proved the formula was buildable. As the shade works well with my skin tone I think when the summer sun starts to give me a tan, I will just be able to use a little more to have the perfect summer shade as well. I love a product i can use year round. I won’t know for certain until the summer but this first use was very promising. The lip crayons went on really well also, it was smooth and creamy. It has the consistency on the lips of a creamy bullet style lipstick. It doesn’t dry down which is fine and requires reapplication after eating but i really like the shade and the feel of it on my lips. It was a great first use. Thus far the only issue I see is that I really like this True shade as a blush so I am not sure I am going to want to try using it anywhere else. It just makes such a great blush. Still it is multi use so I will try using it elsewhere.

This was my first use of the Escape Palette, although a while back I had a mini version of this palette I believe. I remember this pink shimmer shade and I am very happy to have it back (the previous palette was used, well loved and then accidentally dropped where three of the six shadows crumbled, in case you were wondering).I love having this pink shimmer back. It was my favorite before and it is so again. It is a subtle shimmer that is perfect for the work day. i went with a general work day look today and I think it came out looking really well.

The Benefit mascara is one of my favorites. I tried the magnet in a sample and loved it enough to purchase full size. Oddly while i love the magnet version of this mascara, i wasn’t as thrilled by the regular They’re real. It was okay but when I used it I preferred Bad Gal Bang from them. I still love the Bad Gal but this Magnet They’re real is a close second. I just find it amusing at the difference between the two versions of They’re real.

And to end I am using the GrandeBrow Fill. As a brow gel it is fantastic. Since my bangs cover most of my brows at the moment I don’t need much in the way of brow products so I am hoping the good things in this brow fill will work on the patchy spots. That will take time to see but i do like it as a brow gel. it keeps everything in place without feeling stiff.

And wo my darlings that is me today. I’ve just begun the Axiology test and am really excited to see how the products perform in the next few weeks. My tummy is feeling better and the panic that was Friday has settled down to something more manageable for the work week. And so I will get back to my paperwork and let you get on with the rest of your day. I hope it is a fabulous one.

The Daily: February 2nd, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. Today feels just a little strange. Every time I look out the window there is a different weather pattern going on. It was raining , then it was sleeting, then it was snowing and then it was raining again. At the moment we are getting a rain sleet mix where the droplets his as they make impact with the glass of the window but melt to rain right away as though the ice was just kidding.

It is like the weather just can’t make up it’s mind today.

I did make a choice today though. No a big one, it was my IPSY Glam Bag X choice. At the moment I am doing the IPSY Beauty Boost. For $15 per month you get one extra full sized item. I think it is supposed to be worth $40-50+. I’ll have to look at the exact details. This is the third month for the boost. December was first and IPSY chose the Kate Somerville Retinol that is currently in my skincare line up. It was actually a really good choice for me. Last moth they chose the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk R palette. I wasn’t really enthused with it as I am usually on the fence about most Fenty products. They are never bad actually they are usually just okay and pretty forgettable. I am however liking the palette much more than I thought i would and will probably get a lot of use out of it. And it was certainly something I would not have picked up on my own. I also liked that they were switching between skincare and makeup. And yes I know two times wasn’t enough to tell, so I was really curious as to what they picked.

Interestingly they did something different this month. They chose an item but then they had a section in choice where if I didn’t like what they selected then I could trade it out for one of the other items. The Item they chose for me was the Drunk Elephant F-Balm Electrolite Waterfacial which seems to be an over night mask. Since I have only tried one sample from Drunk Elephant and know nothing of most of their products (other than that everyone was raving about them a few years ago) I kept the selection they made. However I really like that they are allowing you to swap out items now as that was the one thing I wasn’t crazy about.

I actually didn’t mean to talk about IPSY so much, but I felt it was worth mentioning. I also liked the rest of the bag this month as well and I am more excited for this month’s IPSY than I have been for a while. I know it is an X month so those are always a bit over the top, but last month’s box was really good as well so thus far they are really hitting 2023 strong.

This is the year I am really reevaluating all of my subscription boxes to see what I really want to keep. I am even trying a few new ones out to see what combination of products I like and what I am willing to let go. I actually signed up for the Cohorted Subscription box. February will be my first one. It will be interesting to see if it is worth it. and since it is a new subscription I’ll probably go ahead and do a full post here instead of just posting the box on IG. Anyway, enough with the subscriptions, lets move on to what I used today…

Today’s Look:

Primer: Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas Primer

Foundation: KVD Vegan Beauty Good Apple Balm Foundation

Bronzer: Milk Makeup Bronzing Stick (from the use up box)

Blush: Cotton Candy Champagne Blushlighter palette from Beauty Bakerie

Currently Beauty Bakerie is having a massive sale up to 40% off for the next two days. the product links will take you to the site.

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Honey Palette

Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics They’re real magnetic Mascara

Lips: Beauty Bakerie Liquid Lip Whip and Illamasqua Lip Liner

Today I started with the Tatcha Liquid primer. I really enjoy it. It is one of my top primers. I still love the balm formula of Tatcha just a little bit more, but then I just really love Balm style primers. This is a really good primer and on the skin it feels a lot like the balm version a you put it on. I wanted a primer that I know and love when I started playing with the KVD foundation so that is why i chose it.

This Good Apple foundation is interesting. It has been a while since I used a foundation that oxidizes. This one does. It looks a little light on me when I apply it, but after a little while (an hour or so) it oxidizes and then looks like it is the right shade for me. It isn’t a perfect shade match, but it does okay. I think I notice it more because I have gotten really lucky with shade matches recently. It makes the not quite shade stand out more to me. while this foundation looks good on most of my face after a little while I really start to notice it settling into fine lines. I had a phone conversation about an hour after I applied the makeup. the conversation lasted about 20 minutes. When I was done I had to use the restroom and I looked in the mirror and I could really see it settling around my mouth and emphasizing the lines. it is something I am going to have to watch.

The Milk Makeup Bronzer is from my use up box. It is a sample and I want to purchase the full size but won’t until I use up the sample. I am trying to use one item from the box each day so this was my choice today. it is an easy choice since I really like it.

I also really like the Beauty Bakerie blush in the Blushlighter palette. Oddly it has enough shimmer for me that I don’t really want to reach for the highlighters. i like the highlighters, and i will use them with other blushes, but just the blush from this palette was good for me. I also couldn’t resist the Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip. If you are looking for liquid lips that dry down enough not to leave lip prints everywhere but not so much as to dry out your lips then i would suggest checking out the line. I did use the Illamasqua lip liner to smooth out the edges but that was mostly because I noticed a not so smooth bit after the lippie dried. It was just easier to correct with lip liner and I really like the Illamasqua formula. I also like that the color blended well.

My shadow was from the Naked Honey palette. I love this palette. it applies well, blends well and looks good. I think the trick with Urban Decay is to find whichever palette they offer that suits you and go with that. I loved their original Naked palettes but a lot of their others just don’t have a color story that appeals to me. Admittedly I may still pick up their Prince palette. On the other hand I have a friend who adores their Cyber palette and doesn’t like anything else. I think once you find the palette from them you like, it is a great palette to use. Mine happens to be the Naked Honey. I can wear the brown tones every day and I have a weakness for the bronze shimmers.

And so i used the palette today.

and that my darlings is me today. Over all it is a quiet one. Phone calls and e-mails but mostly just me and the computer at my desk. There is a whole lot of editing going on. nd now, I must get back to it. Have a great afternoon.

The Daily: January 30th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. It looks like we are actually closing in on the end of January. It is always interesting to see the end of January. A lot of months I am surprised to reach the end of them but somehow January always feels much longer than any other month in the year. I think part of it might be that ic comes after a bunch of holidays. For Me Halloween is sort of when time speeds up.

Halloween is that fun holiday where you dress up and have candy and carve jack o’ lanterns and just generally have a good time making smoking concoctions that look like witch’s brews for the cocktail hour. Then the next morning as I realize the mold has claimed the inside of your pumpkin and the rot from being on the front stoop for several weeks has caused it to slump sideways, I am hit with the realization that it is in fact November.

we always do a lot of our gift exchanges on Thanksgiving because some people only travel for one of the holidays so everything has to be purchased and wrapped for those folks and then there is the shipping for other people so they can have things by Christmas and with one thing or another, the shopping the gatherings, the decorating and the taking down of decorations, from November 1st to January first there is just a blur of movement and whizzing past of time until it stops with the midnight champagne cork popping of new years.

Then everything sort of slows down to normal speeds, which oddly seems glacially slow.

And so January seems to last forever. Yet here we are about to reach the end.

At least that is my take on it. I suppose I am in a bit of an introspective mood today. I spent large chunks of my weekend trying to work out a character’s motivation. My plot idea had him behaving in a certain way so the story would move along but then I couldn’t figure out why he would do what I wanted. It made no sense so i had to think about what this particular character would do in the situation, based on how I’ve written him thus far and how that would affect the story. And than just for fun I flipped it around and thought about how I’d re write the character so that he would behave as I wanted and then i tried to decide which I liked best.

I actually enjoy that part of writing. But it does put me in an introspective sort of mood. I start wondering how everything around me ticks. Luckily oi am working from home with no meetings scheduled today so no coworkers will be affected.

Today’s Look:

Primer: AOA Studios Blur Fection Primer

Foundation: HIDE Invisible medium to full coverage foundation

Bronzer: Kim Chi Chic Hello Thailor Bronzer

Blush: Benefit Cosmetics Georgia Blush

Powder: By Terry Hyaluronic Hyrdo Powder

Eyeshadow: Revolution Beauty Coraline Palette

Mascara: Uoma Salute to the Sun Mascara

Lips: Yensa Super 8 Lip Oil in Power Pink

I picked up this AOA primer from Shop Miss A on a whim and I have to say I really like it. It is a bit crumbly until it warms up and then it blends beautifully and sort of works like spackle on fine lines and pores. I am really enjoying it.

The HIDE foundation is perfectly my shade at this time of year and it does blend well. I am noticing that less is more though. One layer looks beautiful but it is not a foundation I am having any luck building up. One to two pumps covers the face well with a medium coverage. it is my preferred coverage so i am okay with that but building it up just makes those fine lines show more.

The Kim Chi bronzer is beautiful. It is soft and richly pigmented. It applies strong but blends well. I just need to remember that it is more my summer shade than my winter one. It was a bit heavy for me today and since I haven’t used it in a while I was a bit heavy handed. It blended out well, but it was definitely operator error.

This Georgia Blush however is prefect for winter for me. It tends to get lost when I am tan but it is a nice soft pink on winter pale skin for me. I just need to remember to reach for it more often. I am glad I reached for it today.

The By Terry powder is one I will use, but I don’t think I will repurchase, at least in the loose version. The pressed powder is amazing for afternoon touch ups but the loose powder is a bit temperamental. if you use a sponge or a puff it wants to shoe where you first touched down on your face, It can be blended out but it takes some time. The best application has been a fluffy brush tapped on the wrist once before applied to the face. That helps. Once on, it is a beautiful powder, it just requires a bit more thought than other setting powders.

I chose the eyeshadow because I had Revolution on my mind today. I caught up on all of the legal drama of the brand over the weekend so I was thinking about them. Plus once I opened the palette I saw the purple and deep blue and decided that was just what I wanted today. I know, very Ursula of me, but I think it came out well. At least I like it. While I love my neutrals there are some mornings where my brain just says ‘Color NOW!’ and this is just what happened. Personally I like the way it turned out.

I am also loving this UOMA mascara. I deliberately went with just one coat today and I think my lashes look fabulous. In addition, this formula feels so light weight and when I used it last week, my lashes felt soft when I removed the mascara. I know it is a nourishing formula or it is supposed to be based on the website description, but it really seems to be doing some nourishing. One use isn’t enough to really tell, but it is encouraging.

And then there are the lips. I went with the Yensa Super 8 Lip oil. The one I was using before was just a light shine on the lips with barely a tint. This one is far more pigmented, almost like a lipstick. I am actually very impressed with the pigmentation. It is brighter than I usually go with my lips but I do love this formula. I think because the lip oil I used previously had such a barely there color I didn’t realize just how pigmented they were. I am going to have to look at the shade range and actually think about colors instead of just lip care with a shine. And I am always happy to find more lip products.

But that is me my darlings. I am kind of tickled with the way the yes turned out today. It is mostly my computer screen that will get to see them, but they make me happy. And somedays, that is what count’s the most. Happy Monday everyone.

The Daily: January 24th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. Today is a chilly one. I have had fun with the computer for most of the day. The first issue is more fun.

At the bottom of my computer screen there is a section of the menu bar that tells me the temp and the basic weather conditions. It is basically the degree and a one word descriptor. The descriptor is sometimes a little less than helpful. From about May onwards it just says ‘Humid’ Occasionally Humid is replaced with Raining and then it goes back to humid. I have more of a descriptor selection from October through April, although Humid does still crop up. Today it tells me it is cloudy. The fun part is that every time I have glanced down at the menu bar the degree has dropped by one. We started out this morning at 34 and we are now at 22.

And no I don’t think that my looking at it cause it to drop, i just think it is funny that every time I look it has lost one degree.

The second computer issue has been a little less amusing.

I am starting to set up to record audio books. Prior to this I’ve worked with other people’s set ups and recorded other people’s books. No I want my own set up not only for other people’s books but for my own. Today, I wanted to test the system and the room, so someone loaned me a cheap microphone so I could test out everything to make sure it worked properly (noise canceling, recording all that stuff). That way I can adjust what I need to pick up when I order my microphone. This mic came with a USB connector and it took me far to long to realize that the reason I wasn’t getting anything to record is that my computer wanted me to use the mic jack instead of the USB port. which made the ‘I can do a quick test in five minutes’ plan go out the window. It disturbs me to know just how long it took me to realize that it was definitely an operator error.

I really don’t like when my technical failures produce head slapping moments from things I should have realized a lot quicker than I actually did. It does mean that I know what I need to check before ordering, but it it took up a larger chunk of my day than I planned to give. And I have no one to blame. It would be nice to have someone else to blame, but alas it is not to be. And now the mic and any additional necessities will be ordered separately. Because I need the microphone to test out what necessities I may need. I was hoping to get them all in one shot. But that to is not to be.

Today’s Look

Primer: AOA Studios Blurfection Face Primer

Foundation: Yensa BC Skin on Skin Foundation

Bronzer: Viseart Bronze Noix

Blush/Highlight: Beauty Bakerie Cotton Candy Champagne Blushlighter Palette

Setting Powder: Kim Chi Chic Beauty Puff Puff Pass Set and Bake Powder

Eyeshadow: Ciate London The Velvet Palette

Mascara: Milk Makeup Kush Mascara

Brows: Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow

Lips: Laura Mercier Rouge Essentials Beige in Time (70)

I know I have been testing out the HIDE foundation. I planned to continue with it but this morning I noticed the expiration date on the bottom was January 8, 2023.And while I haven’t had a problem with it on my skin, I always get really timid with expired foundations. I’m actually quite annoyed with this as it was a really good foundation and I just got it in This month’s BoxyCharm Premium. It actually arrived after the 8th so it was expired when i received it which doesn’t make me happy at all. I think I wore it enough to form a review of it, but I don’t think I will be wearing it again. At least not this bottle.

So I fell back to one of my favorite foundations instead, the Yensa BC Foundation. I have no problems reaching for it. And actually since I wanted to test out a primer it was good that I was using a foundation I know and love. Today I wanted to try out the AOA priming Balm. It is a balm formula It is about the size of a single eyeshadow and like most things on the Shop Miss A site it was only $1. I figured it would be good to travel with, providing it was worth using.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by how well it has performed thus far. It is not as creamy as other balm primers. It is a little crumply, but it warms up and is less crumbly once on the skin. I think if I held it in my hand and warmed it up in the pan it might not be crumbly at all. As soon as it touched the skin that wasn’t an issue. It just needs a little warmth. It blended beautifully and the white faded to nothing. It smoothed my face down and helped fill in some of my fine lines. I was very impressed with it’s first use.

I went for the Viseart Bronzer today. It always performs beautifully. In general every product I have tried from Viseart performs beautifully.

I also reached for the Beauty Bakerie Blushlighter palette today. This always amuses me. I look at it and every time i think, wow that is a bright pink blush. Then I apply it and it is bright when I first apply it, then I blend and it just blends beautifully. I gives me a nice soft blush. I could build it brighter if I wanted (or had a darker skin tone, which for me would be mid summer so I an use this year round) but it just blends so beautifully for a soft glow. I really need to stop thinking of the bright pink and use this more.

Today I also went for the Kim Chi setting powder. While I would use this just because of the powder puff, it is also great setting powder. So it is sort of a win win. Very little is actually needed so the container will last a really long time.

I did go a little crazy with the shimmer from The Velvet Palette today. I accidentally grabbed the wrong brush. It was fluffier than I expected and so there was more shimmer than planned. But I still really like these shadows. Ciate shadow formulas can be a bit hit or miss for me, but this one is beautiful

I think this may be the last of the Milk Makeup Mascara. It is as sample tube and I think the sample is now ended. Which is sad, because it was a beautiful mascara. It is definately one I will purchase again.

And I went back for my OG brow fave today. The precisely my brow. This was once the only brow product I used and while I have expanded, I really liked going back for it today and will be using it more often.

And finally the lips. This is a bullet style lipstick so it never dries down and does leave lip prints on coffee mugs. It is a super creamy and comfortable formula though and I really enjoy wearing it. Plus the magnetic lid means I can put it in my purse with no worries of it coming open. And as this is a lipstick that will need a touch up, that is a very good thing.

And so my darlings that is me today. I rather like how things looked today and quite honestly it was really nice to have one thing turn out well today when I spent far to long babbling incoherently at a microphone that wouldn’t work. I know, having your makeup come out well is a small thing, but today it is a consolation prize. And now it is back to work for me. Have a great rest of the day.

The Daily: January 4th, 2023

I don’t know if you have noticed but as soon as it goes dark and rainy in the winter it feels much colder than it actually is. The temperature hasn’t really dropped that far, but it feels so much colder than it did before the rains came yesterday. Perhaps it is the damp, perhaps it is just the lack of sun. Admittedly bright sun in the winter always makes things look a lot colder as well. Something about the quality of the winter sun makes the air feel brittle, like a thin sheet of ice ready to shatter.

Or maybe that is just me.

Today is rainy and not likely to get much brighter. I always feel vaguely out of sorts when I have to get up without the sun. I like seeing it peeping over the horizon as I get out of bed. I like the thought that if I am getting up at least the sun is having to get up too. It some how makes me feel better about mornings. Not fabulous about mornings as I will never be a morning person, but better. when I get up and the sun still stays nestled behind clouds I feel rather tricked.

Again, that is probably just me.

But with yesterday’s deluge inspiring thoughts of Ark building in the backyard and rain likely to continue throughout the day, the park is, as one would expect from a walking trail built in a flood plain, flooded. I love that they found a way to use very unusable land without doing much more than putting a path through it, but it does make my out door exercise weather dependent. However, as cold as it feels, the out door temps are not in the single digits, which means my sunroom does not feel like a frigid icebox. So I was able to get in my morning exercises without too much trouble. I really just don’t like sweating when it is cold. Unless I am walking through the world and there is a line of sweat under my knitted hat or around my writs where the gloved hold my hands tightly. My hands never get sweaty in the gloves, just the wrist area where the gloves are held tight and the coat is pulled over the end of the gloves so there is no gap of exposed skin.

Not that wrist sweat is something many people complain about. So perhaps that is just me too. I know, I am feeling just a bit out of sorts today, let’s just jump into the makeup.

Today’s Look

Primer: Stila One Step Color Correcting Primer

Foundation: Bite Beauty Changemaker (discontinued – from the Use Up Box)

Bronzer: Kim Chi Chic Beauty Thailor Bronzer

Blush: Benefit Cosmetics Georgia Golden Peach Blush

Highlight: Jazmine Beauty Coastin Highlighter

Setting Powder: Pink Haze by Becca Cosmetics (Discontinued and from the January Use up box)

Eyeshadow: Luvia Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette

Mascara: Iconic London Triple Threat Mascara

Lipstick: Josephine Cosmetics Liquid lip In Tiphaine

I was feeling a little on the red side today. I’m also a little stuffy from the up and down weather patterns, but that is another tale. I figured that meant today was a good day for the color correcting primer. There is something appealing about the twisted ropes of color inside the tube. They look like marshmallow ropes and probably why Stila opted for a clear container to show them off. What comes out is a little grayish with green streaks. Less appealing, but it did even out my skin tone. If redness or uneven skin tone is your thing i think this could be good for you. It doesn’t do a lot to fill or blur pores (which is more my thing) but as I was red today it helped. It is a wet formula and needs a little time to dry down a bit and settle into place before you apply your other makeup. It is also a less is more product. start with a little on your reddest areas and blend out. Then apply more if you need it. It won’t blur pores no matter how much you use so just think of it in terms of color. But start with a small amount.

Bite Beauty is gone, but i love this foundation and will be using it up until it is gone. It is no longer being made so I won’t dwell on it, but it was fabulous.

The Kim Chi bronzer is a soft formula and highly pigmented so dip cautiously into that pan, especially if you are winter pale. It does blend well so it is pretty forgiving, just know it goes on highly pigmented-ly and you will do well. I like it, mostly because it does blend well and if I move cautiously I can use it for a more natural look (due to blending) but if I want something more dramatic then I can go a little deeper. The under tones in this shade really match well with my skin and for me that is what allows the shifting use. The collection has a wide enough range that I think a wide range of people can find their undertone pretty easily. I really like that I can use it light or heavy for a variety of looks. Clearly i went a bit light today, mostly due to winter.

This is actually the last Benefit blush I have in my collection It is showing signs of wear and I do want to reach for it more. Partially because I just love Benefit’s blushes, but also because I want to use it and then go with a Blush Palette from Benefit. while I adore their primers and mascaras, they do a really good blush formula. The problem though is that any blush I try tends to lean itself more to a season. I’ll use them out of season of course, but the Gold Rush Blush was amazing on my skin when I had a summer tan and just a good blush in other seasons. This Georgia tends to look amazing in the spring and just like a decent blush the rest of the year. Because of that i do want to keep multiple blushes from benefit around, I just don’t want the bixes taking up so much space, hence the blush palette. Although i do have to admit that as they released a new line of blushes I will probably end up picking up a few singles as well. What can i say, they just make a really good blush. I am just holding off until I get a bit more wear on this one.

This is my first use of anything from Jaszmine Cosmetics. It came in a Kinder Beauty Box and I just didn’t get around to trying it. Although I do know that it is a clean beauty product, which I love. The gold tones are a little on the pink toned side for this highlighter. It goes on brightly and it is buildable. It was a good first use, but i think I am going to have to try it some more to decide how I feel about it. At the moment though it is quite lovely.

I went with the Becca Setting powder because I am trying to use it up. slowly but surely it is emptying. It is good while it lasts though.

This Luvia Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette is a Two pan palette i received in an advent calendar this year. It is a clean and vegan beauty product and as I love the highlighter they make I was excited to try out the eyeshadow. This has one brown matte and one gold shimmer in it. The shadows are billed as highly pigmented and boy are they not kidding. Exercise caution my darlings. One dip with each shade was enough for my eyes and I spent the rest of the time with a clean brush blending everything in. Interestingly Where the gold overlaps the brown it goes to my favorite bronzy gold. Where it isn’t over the brown it is a reddish rose gold color. There really are just two shades on my eyes but the shift makes it look a bit like three.

The matte and shimmer worked well together, but as there was only one matte and one shimmer I don’t know how well they play together in a full palette. These two layered well and blended decently but not fabulously well. The brown is just so highly pigmented that it just wants to be what it is. i will still play around with it, but I think this would be an interesting formula to try in a lighter shade.

the Iconic London triple threat mascara lengthens well. Everything else is just okay, which I guess makes it a single threat instead of a triple one. i will use it and enjoy it, but it wont be one I repurchase.

I put this in my use up box this month not because i wanted to use it up but because i couldn’t remember using it. I kept getting it out when i did my lipstick declutters, swatching it and loving the red but never remembering to use it. So I figured if it was in the box I would remember to use it. I am actually quite impressed with this. It is a bright red and I love the tones. Reds can also get messy in liquid form, but this is helped by the well defined point on the end of the wand. It allowed me to outline my lips and then fill them in. The lipstick doesn’t dry down all the way so there is a shadow of a lip print once it ‘dries’ but it is really just a shadow. There aren’t trails of red lipstick all over my coffee cup and water glass. The fact that it doesn’t dry down all the way makes it very comfortable to wear. I am actually really enjoying the formula if I am honest. I am very glad it is in my January Use box and i will be reaching for it often as I move forward.

And that my darlings is me today. I kind of like the way things turned out, even if my brain feels a little bent today. And i will admit, the bold red lip did make me feel just a little bit better. And so this is where I leave you. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday and I hope you find all of the balance you need, red lip or not.

The Daily: December 21st, 2022

You know, it is at this time of year that I realize why we put parties on Friday and Saturday nights. Or maybe it is because i am used to parties on Friday and Saturday nights that I just feel the day after a party should involve no work. I know why they chose a Tuesday, no one else claimed it and it was a neighborhood thing where everyone could walk. It was nice. And i had a lot of fun. Last night’s signature drink involved Honey Bourbon. Which i happen to like. However they decided to add a little extra honey to the drink to really reinforce the honey bourbon idea. Which was less delightful. It was an interesting drink though and the hostess was happy to point out there was no refined sugar in it.

I drank about half and did my best not to dive head first into the veg dip. They may try and fail at the drink mixes but they always hit a home run with the dips. There is one dip they make that I know contains nothing good for me in it. it is so delicious I don’t care. When ever i get there I have to identify which table it is on and make sure I don’t get into a conversation while standing within easy reach of it because I will not resist. It is one of those that i need to take a small bit on a plate and then walk to the other side of the room e to enjoy, staying on the other side of the room for the rest of the party.

it is the dip everyone wants to ask about but no one will because we all know we shouldn’t be eating it. I won’t even ask her the name because I know if i have the name I will try looking it up on line and I do not need to know that recipe.

As the walking trail has finally dried out a bit i am just going to do an extra lap for the amount of dip I consumed last night and just call it good. I may have had a hard time getting started today because it feels like it should be a weekend, but over all I am still chugging away at the last of my to do list. My plan is to finish as much as possible so that tomorrow will be all travel prep. I don’t know if i can pull it off, But I am sure going to try

Today’s Look:

Primer: Dr. Brant Pores No More Luminizer Primer

Foundation: AOA Prowear Foundation

Bronzer: Kimchi Chic Beauty Thailor Bronzer

Blush: Ciate London Marbled Light Blush

Setting Powder: Beauty Bakerie Flour in Oat

Eye Shadow: Tresluce Midnight Deseos

Mascara: They’re Real Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara

Lips: About Face Lip Paint

Okay today the Dr. Brant Really looked good underneath the AOA Foundation. A good primer can really help a foundation out and this one did. The foundation I picked up on the Shop Miss A site a while back (for a $1, what else) and I had to try it. The thing is I picked this one up in the summer and it is clearly a winter shade for me. I actually like the way it looks on my skin. It blended well, but I did have to remember to use it sparingly. A little goes a long way. it is also a thicker foundation than I am used to. it isn’t heavy but it isn;t weightless either. I did notice that after mid day it did start to sink into my fine lines. I am going to try this with a pore filling primer at some point and see if that helps make it last longer because it was pretty enough to see if i can get some longer wear out of it.

I remembered not to go too heavy on the bronzer today and I think it looked nice. it is a great formula and as long as you remember it is also highly pigmented it works well, blends well and lasts a long time. I also love this blush. I have a coupkle of samples from a different blush from Ciate and I have been trying to use them but I don’t like them as much. With Ciate it is hit or miss for me. This marbled blush is a hit while I am not head over heels for their other blushes that I have tried. This one is a winner though. It is a soft, light look that I really enjoy.

Tresluce again today, although i think I may put it aside for a while after this. Partially because I have tried all of the shadows and want to try them again with a lid primer and partially because I realized I have a stack of eyeshadow palettes that came in over the past few months that i have yet to try out and I want to try them out. I sent for the light pink and the gold shimmer today. The pink worked well but the gold dragged when I tried to blend it. Hence the reasoning behind trying this palette again with a lid primer. I went pretty soft because I know I was going for this lip paint from About face.

I love this color but I have some issues with the product. I can not get it to apply evenly. I always end up with a darker spot where I touch town with the want and if I pause in the application then there is another darker spot. i know it is hard to notice if you aren’t up close but it bothers me. It dries fast and lasts a while, but it is really hard to correct if you make a mistake. I don’t have a lip liner to match this or I would certainly use it. With this lip paint you have to focus when applying it because it does dry so fast and any mistakes are there to stay. I just love this color so much though and so I am going to have to practice more. one thing though unless your lips are perfectly symmetrical, which mine aren’t, don’t rub them together after applying. Bite down on something to blot and settle the product on your lips. Any other way and you will make a bit of a mess.

And that my darlings is me today. I should have reached for the concealer to take down those dark circles but I didn’t. Such is life. Everything else I am pretty pleased by. The eye look wasn’t my favorite but it was the last shadow i hadn’t tried in the palette. But now, I am buckling down and doing my best to finish the last of my work week so tomorrow will be a good day. I think I can do it. I wish you luck if you are trying the same.

The Daily: December 19th, 2022

It’s Monday my darlings on the last week before Christmas. I don’t know about you but I always hit this week thinking I hae everything ready to go for Christmas and then find a bag of small items i forgot to wrap. You know the things you wrap only because you have to pack your presents. Usually they get dropped into stockings but as the people whose stockings you are stuffing might actually see you do it, you wrap them so its still a surprise. Stockings are always the tricky ones. You wait until the kids are asleep but as the other adults are moving around they often see you put things out. So you end up finding your self wrapping small and oddly shaped items so no one can see.

Actually some of them I wrap with cardboard cur from old subscription boxes so the shape f the thing I am wrapping doesn’t give it away.

As per usual I found the last bag this morning when I went to look in the closet. I also found that I am out of tape. So there will be a run to puck up more tape and then tonight there will be a wrapping of tiny items while watching after dinner television. I know Paramount+ just put up a whole bunch of new things. I’m sure there will be something on to watch.

with that it will be the last of the wrapping. If anything else comes in after, I will pick up a gift bag. Mostly because I am also almost at the end of my wrapping paper and while what I have will get me through the bag I have left, it won’t last much beyond that and I don’t want to pick up a new roll of paper just for one item. I will make it a spectacular gift bag though so my mom can say “oh,” and add it to he collection to be used again.

but I don’t think there will be any more items showing up. It just feels like there ought to be because most of the things i ordered have already been sent on. At Thanksgiving we exchanged bags of presents with those who wouldn’t be making another trip at Christmas. So I have a list where half of the items are already checked off as delivered.

It still makes me think I am forgetting something.

but at this point if I have I will either remember it last second or mail it after I return from my time away. But all that is for after work. Rght now I am mostly just concentrating on getting through everything before I leave. I am fairly certain my to do list multiplied over the weekend. Maybe someone fed it after midnight.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Dr. Brant Pores No More Luminizer Primer

Foundation: Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation

Bronzer: Kimchi Chic Beauty Thailor Bronzer

Blush/highlighter: IBY Sunkissed blush

Setting Powder: Beauty Bakerie Flour in Oat

Eye Shadow: Tresluce Midnight Deseos

Mascara: They’re Real Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara

Lips: Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Lipstick in Rum Punch

Have you ever reached for a product that you know you like and found out that it is no longer as good as it was because you kept it too long? Yeah. I loved this ABH foundation stick. It was creamy and looked fantastic on. I have just a little bit left in the stick and I though surly I can finish this up. I actually planned to put it in my New Use up Box for January. It isn’t going to make it to January. this was it’s last use. It was a bit on the dry side. I did put a little bit of the Wander Beauty Glow Oil on it and let it sit for a minute and then wiped off what didn’t sink in. The results were fine. i like how it looks. But I don’t think the trick is going to work again. mostly because there is just not that much product in the tube. So it is is going to dry out faster. And while it isn’t expired and i didn’t have any issues putting it on my face I think the expiration date is approaching. And so away it goes.

You know, i had planned to use up several products this December but I am really checking them off the list. I know it is because I started with the products that were closest to being done, but still it feels like i am making progress on the whole using up the older makeup list.

After using up the super mattifying primer I could really see the glow in the Dr. Brandt. I liked it. And the foundation was matte so it wasn’t too much, even with the glow oil. It is a really good primer that probably helped out more than usual with the slightly dry foundation.

I forgot how intensely pigmented the Kim Chi bronzer is. I had to go back and do some correcting. it is a soft and easily buildable formula but it is very pigmented and easy to get carried away with. Once you remember that it is easy to work with. Just tread lightly with your application. I still haven’t made up my mind about this IBY Blush. It looks nice but i had to go in a couple of times with it. the pigment is strong but once you start to blend it fades back a lot. I think it might work better with a bb cream rather than a full foundation.

Once again, I went in with the Tresluce palette. Today I used the black over one of the reddish shades and the one shimmer that is more shimmer than metallic foil. I liked everything but the black shadow. You can clearly see where I put my brush down on the lid. I intended to then blend it out but the shadow was having none of that. it was where it was put and it saw no reason to move. So I sort of have a stamp of black at the edge of my eye and that is it. i was able to put a little more pigment on the rest of the lid by brushing over the lid lightly without an official touch down, but that first touch wasn’t going anywhere. I will be trying this palette with a lid primer because I think it needs one but I wasn’t thrilled with that black shadow. I do like the shimmer shade though. It applied well with a dry brush and it worked really well with the mattes in the palette that I chose for today. It was just the black shadow that wasn’t in the mood to play.

As always I adore the They’re real mascara and I love the ABH Matte Lipstick formula. It is creamy and not drying and once it settles in it lasts for a while. And this is one of my favorite shades. I do love the darker berry tones. And so we are off on our Monday on the race to get everything done before we load the car on Friday. Wish me luck!