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: January 18th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. I hope you are having a fantastic day. Today, I can’t lie has been a bit on the busy side. I spent much of yesterday on the phone with my mother. She now has her prosthetic hand and was as thrilled as a toddler on christmas morning. You know when they talk to you and are so excited that they get out of breath and have an hour long run on sentence? Well that was my mother. Odd in a woman in her seventies, but still kind of adorable.

everything works and she is starting her lessons in control. When she tried to pick up a cup she crushed it so she has been warned not to try shaking anyone’s hand for a while. It was also suggested she avoid using her good china. I think she spent the day showing off her new arm. I think she also might be trying on clothes to see what works well with it because she has sent six pictures today all with her wearing different shirts. I find it adorable.

And after last year it is really nice to see her excited about something.

It does mean that I am running a little behind on things, but I consider that perfectly acceptable.

Yesterday I also received two separate subscription boxes. My Boxy Charm Premium arrived and the Chic Beauty Box from November/December arrived. I was trying it out to see if I liked it and with it being so late I put the membership on hold until I received the box. It is still on hold and I am definitely skipping the January/February Box. I’ll decide in February if I want to get the March/April box or just cancel. I couldn’t resist using several items from those boxes in todays look so you will see some of those below. The full boxes I have up on Instagram. There is a link in the side bar if you want to see them.

Speaking of subscription boxes, Smartass and Sass is having a 60% off sale through January 20th. I tend to get their t-shirts to use for workouts as they make me feel better. Sometimes I like their boxes and sometimes I don’t so I tend to pick up the items I like in their on-line store rather than subscribe to the boxes, mostly because I know I won’t use some of the items. But I do love certain items and I did place an order for a few things. As they arrive and I put them to use I’ll use them and share my thoughts. If you have a slightly sarcastic and bent sense of humor, you might want to check them out. They also have some discounted boxes in the sale so if you are thinking about a box, you could try one of those and see if you like it before committing to the subscription. I love their t-shirt subscription but prefer to pick and choose with the items. with the occasional box when things just appeal to me. I actually ended up getting some smartass gifts from them for friends this year as well. Anyway, big sale if you are interested and it runs through January 20th.

Today’s Look

Primer: Marc Jacobs Under (Cover) Blurfection Pimer (discontinued and from the Use Up Box)

Foundation: HIDE Invisible Oil Free Medium to Full Coverage Foundation

Bronzer: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk R Bronzer and Highlight Palette

Blush: NARS Unwrapped Orgasm Blush Duo (I used Orgasm today)

Powder: By Terry Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Setting Powder

Eyeshadow: Dominique Cosmetics Unconditional Palette

Mascara: Milk Makeup Kush Mascara

Brows: GrandeBrow Fill

Lips: Laura Mercier Rouge Essentials Beige In Time (70) Lipstick

Okay we start with the Primer, love it, it is discontinued and I am so close to using it up. It actually worked well today. But since it is no longer in production, I will say no more about it.

As I mentioned above I am using a lot of Subscription box products today, starting with the foundation. I have never tried anything from HIDE before. It is a $30 foundation that has the word luxury all over the packaging and the website. The container is white plastic that looks a little on the cheap side. I haven’t looked into it and there may be a good reason for it, but the container feels kind of cheap. Also while the white boxy look with black lettering is nice and editorial in a photo, this is my first use and I already have streaks of foundation on the white. I suspect I will have to clean it after each use. That being said, I actually kind of love the foundation. It is a first wear, but it is wearing well. It blended beautifully and felt light. Thus far I am not having any settling issues. I’ll keep working but thus far it is performing impressively even if the container doesn’t look that Luxe.

The Fenty Beauty palette I like. It has a range of bronzers and while there is only one I can use now and one that I will probably transition to in the summer, they also make nice shadows. The two shimmer shades are good shadows but really poor highlights.

In the Chic Beauty Box was the NARS. I had the Orgasm Blush when it first came out and I used it down to pan. It is a beautiful shade that just works so well with my skin tone. The other shade in the duo I may be able to use in the summer but not now. I am fine with that. the pans are large and I adore the shade I am using. It also reminds me that I need to replace my NARS Bronzer. It too I used down to pan. NARS was one of those brands I turned to as a staple for the longest time and then slowly forgot about. For the last few months they have started edging back into my consciousness. I am actually quite happy to see them return. (And if you get a chance their reformulated lipsticks are well worth picking up).

I think I may now have a handle on the By Terry Powder. The trick is to one, apply it with a fluffy brush, and two tap it on your wrist before putting it to your face. if you go straight in then the brush leaves a powder mark you have to get off. Tapping it once just puts the mark on your wrist not your face. Makes application much easier.

Dominique Cosmetics has also been coming out with some winners. I adore their cream blush and reach for it quite frequently. This Shadow Palette came in my boxy and it is a first use. It does had a gold glitter shade that has already started leaving a trail across the table. I avoided it today but I used pretty much all of the other shades. They are quite pigmented and the brush does need to be tapped off before application, but they do blend beautifully. I think it is a really good selection and the mix works well. The shadows complement each other and it is a really well thought out palette. It is also a good selection to go into February and Valentines Day with so that is nice.

The Milk mascara performed beautifully. And I am kind of in love with the Grande Brow Fill. If goes on easily and not clumpy. It adds a slight tint to the brows as well a a little gel to hold them in place. They are staying in place without feeling crunchy which is also nice. In general I love Grande Cosmetics products so it isn’t a surprise but it is always good to find another product from the brand I like. (Their Lash regrowth serum is absolutely fantastic, I used it when I ripped out my lashes in an ill fated false lash glue accident and I recommend it highly.)

And finally the lip. I Like Laura Mercier and this is a nice neutral shade for me. It is a very creamy formula that does leave a trail of lip prints behind. It will also need to be reapplied around lunch time. But it isn’t sticky, just very creamy so if you are having dry lip issues, this might be one formula to look into.

And that is me my darlings. Over all I am pleased with how things turned out, and while I have no problems with why large sections of my day were lost yesterday, it does leave me playing catch up today. And so now I will leave you and return to the ever present paperwork. Have a great day.

The Daily: November 3rd, 2022

I know I hadn’t planned on posting a declutter series at the moment but I have to admit it felt good to go through some things. I hate having products I forget about and to be honest I really don’t like having this much makeup in my collection at one time. I like to be able to cycle through things a little more easily so that I can actually use everything I have in a timely manner.

Plus not having everything put away was driving me absolutely bonkers. i don’t need everything to be spotless, but i do need to know that there is a place to put everything. even if it doesn’t happen to be there at the moment. Also sorting through things inspired me and made me want to play a bit more with my makeup.

Truth be told I did go a little crazy with the eyeshadow today. I intended a quick and laid back look so i could indulge in a brighter lipstick but then i just got going. But I also got to see some of my old favorites in the drawer that I hadn’t seen in a while and forgot about because of the new.

And the drawer now closes. Somehow the fact that there was just a tiny gap where it wouldn’t close all of the way really bothered me. I could ignore the mess of the products laid out over the surface but that drawer…

But that is done.

And i feel better for it.

Even if it wasn’t the plan.

So today…pretty normal actually. Loads of editing. It will be pretty quiet until after thanksgiving though, at least it usually is. Then once everyone shakes off the turkey induced somnolence everyone seems to realize that with the upcoming time off everyone plans to take there is a very limited number of working days before the end of the year is neigh.

I personally will be very happy to see this year fade into the history books and I am perfectly happy to get so focused on work between celebrations that the last of this year slips by unnoticed and unremarked. It is however the calm before the storm right now. everything is just ticking by as it should.

My mom was measured for her new hand this week and a plaster mold was taken. They took one before as well so that her new hand will look almost exactly like the one she lost to cancer. In even better news she had a visit with the oncologist and she is now completely cancer free. She’ll still need the check ups but for now it is gone. All of it has been removed and she is once again cancer free. As excited as everyone is, this was her third bout with cancer this year so we are holding off on the celebration at the moment. She wants to celebrate when she gets the new hand instead of now. I think because it will take a few months and there will be a few more follow up check ups between now and then so she can be really assured that it is gone and not coming back.

Which makes sense.

So we are holding off official celebrations and cautiously optimistic while sighing heavily in relief.

But oh, how sweet that relief is.

It is very difficult to fight a disease. It is also very difficult to stand on the side lines and know that the only thing you can do is encourage someone you love while they fight a disease. While we should always support people going through something like cancer, if you have someone in your life who has family going through something like cancer, I encourage you to offer them a little support and encouragement as well. I will never minimize the effort it takes to fight a disease, but standing there forced to watch while being able to do absolutely nothing is not a comfortable situation either. I’ve had a lot of friends and loved ones I can lean on, but sometimes that is not always the case. If you can be there for someone like that I highly urge you to do so.

okay that is my serious moment. Let’s talk makeup shall we? I know I could use something lighter.

Today’s Look

Primer: Dr. Brandt Pores No more Luminizer Primer

Foundation: No 7 Lift and Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation

Bronzer: Milk Makeup Cream Bronzer Stick

Blush: Dominique Cosmetics Cream Blush

Eyeshadow: Lime Crime Venus Immortals Palette

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

Lips: Guerlain Velvet Matte Lipstick in Black Red

Today I decided to use the hair sticks I picked up from Shop Miss A. I really like them and will be getting more soon as I need to replace some very worn ones. I put a close up picture of these below in case you want to see what they look like up close. I know me wearing them doesn’t show you much.

We will start with the primer. I found this still sealed in my makeup drawer and realized I had never tried it out. I have no reason why other than I think it came in with three other primers from subscription boxes and it was just shunted to the side. I like Dr. Brandt skincare actually and the pores no more line specifically. This primer has a skincare line scent to it, very fresh and clean. It has a slight tint and I was very impressed with the pore blurring it did and hope that the skin care element will keep it from becoming pore clogging. It is a bit luminating as well and would probably work well under a more matte finish foundation or aid in creating a dewy look. While I am no longer going for straight up matte there is a limit to how dewy I will go. this doesn’t take me over the edge.

I did pair it was a foundation that does have a little luminosity to it, and if still worked well for me. I could tell you the trial was intentional but really, I love this foundation and when it came out after my declutter I just couldn’t resist wearing it. I know I wanted to lean more into the foundations that are almost empty so that I can clear them out, but this is one of my favorite foundations. So today, I used it.

The Milk Makeup bronzer is nice. I went a little heavy with it today. More so than i intended actually. It needs to be warmed up by your hand before being applied if you want a smooth application. I had it in my hand an was ready to apply when the phone rang. I kept it in my hands and played with it during the phone call and after I applied it. The warmer it gets the more product applies, so if you have warmed it up, go light. It did blend out really well although i feel one cheek has a darker line than the other.

the Dominique cosmetics cream blush also needs to warm up before application. even if you are using a makeup sponge to apply it I recommend running your finger over the surface to get it warm first. I used both my finger and the makeup sponge. I took the product from the pan with my finger to my cheek and then used the sponge to blend it out. It blends beautifully and i love this color for my skin tone. I am using the Natural Rose by the way.

I ordered this Lime Crime Palette before I went home and it did arrive before I left. I only got to use it once though before I left and then it got buried. I wanted this palette since I saw it and it didn’t disappoint. I enjoy Lime Crime’s shadow formula. The brushes need one tap to prevent fall out. the pigmentation is rich but not over the top. Sometimes I find the more highly pigmented shadows to be a bit much for me to control. I prefer formulas that are buildable. These shades are rich but they are not so pigmented that I feel out of control. The silver does tend to have more fall out than the other shades but it isn’t much. it also seems to occur during the first application phase. Thus far I haven’t notice any drifting throughout the day and I’ve had the shadow on for several hours now. I’ll continue to watch it, but it seems to be working well. I did go a little heavier than I intended. I tried one shadows and then went ‘Oh lets try this. And then I kept going. I think I used six out of the eight pans. Which is not my normal application. But I was in the mood to play so I did.

I initially chose the muted tones because I wanted to use my Guerlain lipstick. I love the color and adore the formula but I like to pair deep lipsticks with lighter shadows and deeper shadows with neutral lips. The eyes went a bit more than anticipated but I still used the lip. I love this formula. It is the most expensive lip product I own which is why I don’t have multiple shades of this formula. However i will use this up until it is a nub and then break out a lipstick brush to use the last remnants of that nub. And then I will purchase a replacement for the refillable container. At some point I might pick up a second one in a more neutral color/ If I do I will have a hard time not just alternating between the two lipsticks. It is just that good.

This formula is extremely comfortable to wear, dries down just enough not to leave lip prints everywhere (it still leaves a little trace since it is a bullet lipstick that doesn’t dry down all the way), and it lasts all day. it has a 16 hour wear time listed. I haven’t ever worn it for 16 hours straight but i plan to do a wear test and given that I don’t need touch ups in an 8 hour work day I expect it will perform well. And now that I have waxed poetic about my lipstick I will head back to my editing and leave you to get on with the rest of your day. I hope you have a fantastic one, you deserve it.

The Daily: September 8th, 2022

Oh my. Today has been a day where the phone simply did not stop ringing. It started ringing with my first cup of coffee. It rang as soon as I hung up and then of course it started beeping while I was talking to let me know that someone else was calling while I was on the phone talking.

Apparently there was some kind of rule about calling me before lunch. I’m not sure why there was a lunchtime deadline, but once the clock struck noon the phone calmed down. Maybe everyone went out to lunch and isn’t back yet. I keep glancing over to the phone wondering why it is not ringing anymore, even though I am glad to have a bit of a break. it threw my system off a bit but I am slowly getting back on track. Admittedly at lunch I had to reconfigure the schedule.

Once I shifted projects to have them complete before I left I started rolling them out. A few started going out last Friday with more going out this week. Apparently that was going to be gone at the end of the month and to find all sorts of things they thought I needed to talk about before I left. A lot of it is to schedule projects for when i return.

As we are entering the busy season it is understandable but it seems like everyone checked their schedule and freaked out at the same time. I think part of it might be that I will be leaving on September 23rd and not returning until October 9th or 10th. It caused people to flip the calendar page so to speak and while the holidays seem pretty far from September they start arriving in October.

And yes I consider Halloween the kick off to the holidays. In fact it is my favorite of them if I am honest. Anyway, I did manage my makeup before Chicken Little decided the sky was falling so let’s take the lull to go over it.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Face Primer

Foundation: CoverGirl Aquasmooth Foundation + sunscreen

Bronzer: Trestique Bronzer stick

Blush: Dominique Cosmetics Cream Silk Blush

Eyeshadow: Colourpop Blowin Smoke

Brows: iMethod Beauty Eyebrow Stamp Kit

Mascara: Milk Makeup Rise Mascara

Lips: About Face Matte in Take Aim

Okay today I specifically chose the Ole Henriksen primer to pair with the Cover Girl. First off I loe the primer and it does nice things for my skin. Second I wanted to try this with an illuminating primer. Yesterday I used this foundation with a really gripping prime and it turned out well. Today, the foundation was back to slipping a little as I applied everything else. I think that with the sunscreen this foundation formula needs a really gripping primer. It looks good but it was harder to work with since gripping isn’t the banana bright’s main function.

I did go light on the bronze and blush. Because the foundation was moving more, I I applied the face products and they moved the foundation a bit, so I had to go back in with the foundation over the bronzer and blush. it worked, but it was more trouble than it had to be. I like this foundation, it just needs to be worn with a primer that really locks it into place.

Today was the last day of the Milk Makeup Mascara. I was actually scraping bottom to apply it. The tube is now officially empty. A full size will be purchased as soon as I look over the current mascaras I have. I know about three of them need to be tossed and I have several waiting in the wings. The evaluation will be soon. (Mostly because I want it done before I leave so i will probably start that as I decide what makeup to pack to take with me.)

I still love the Blowin Smoke palette. however I want to reach for the same shadows to do a specific look and found myself forcing myself to try different ones. I went with the balck sparkle and the silver today. The silver is lovely (although I got a bit crazy because I was hurried between calls) and the shimmery black doesn’t really shimmer. It is also a little more powdery than the regular black. I suspect i will just reach for the regular black in the future. I like this palette and I like having it in my collection, but I know i am going to reach for it for a specific look.

Today I used the About Face Lip paint. I love the color and I love that the painted tip makes it easy to apply. It does bleed a little into the fine lines around my lips, not majorly, but enough that I notice. I just need a lip liner to pair with it and I will be fine. It also dries down well and relatively quickly. So there isn’t a trail of lip prints left behind me,. It doesn’t dry down to desiccated parched lip level though which is nice. I did find that after a few hours though I was reaching for my lip balm. it is dry but not overly dry, but the lip balm didn’t hurt.

And so my darlings that is me. And the phone is ringing again so I will let you go. Have a great day.

The Daily August 3rd, 2022

Today my darlings I decided that I did not want to look like death warmed over. That’s right, I went with makeup. I left of the mascara and the brows because I am still a sneezing watery eyed mess, But I decided that I simply wanted to something normal.

What is interesting is that I feel a lot better than I have, despite the running nose, eyes sort throat and pounding headache. All of my symptoms are less and I feel like I am on the mend. I managed to actually stay awake all day long today, a first this week.

Interestingly enough today was the first test where i tested positive. The lines were very light compared to my babydoll’s, whose lines were dark and bold on the test strip. Still there is no leaving the house until next week. Which is fine.

I miss my walking and exercise but as even thinking about it makes me feel exhausted, I accept that the fitness plan is on hold for a bit. But I did something normal today and that was to put on some makeup and actual clothes. I know, not pajamas today. At least for a few hours. I think I might make it to about for or five before I change. But I wanted to feel like me for a bit and I did. So shall we take a look?

Today’s Look

Primer: Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer

Foundation: Yensa BC Skin on Skin Full Coverage Foundation

Bronzer: Illamasqua Gel Bronze Stick

Blush: Dominique Cosmetics Cream Blush

Eyeshadow: Lunar Beauty Nude Prism

Lips: Elf Sheer Slick in Black Cherry

Okay I’ll be honest, I leaned into products I liked and that took minimal effort to use today, except for the eyeshadow. The tatcha silk canvas (in the balm form) is a log time favorite. The Yensa BC foundation is rapidly becoming my go to product for foundation. it is just beautiful and easy to blend. My tube is almost empty so I will need to replace it soon, but it is fantastic. I was keeping it light so I used the Illamasqua gel bronze. It feels wet when it is applied which takes some getting used to, but it blends beautifully. The Cream blush I really do enjoy. It might be a bit too much considering how washed out I feel today, but it blended out beautifully. And you of course know that I love the elf Sheer Slick. Once again it is nearing the end of it’s life and once again I will be reordering it.

So all fabulous right? Now let’s talk about this shadow.

Its the lunar beauty palette and to be honest I thought I was reaching for a brown shade. The fact that it came out purple was a bit of a surprise to me. I swatched it after i saw it on the lid and the swatch came out brownish with a purple tinge. But it went full Ursula the sea witch purple on the lids. Which was unexpected. It does show off the big flaw in this shadow though and that is the blending. I’m going to try it with a lid primer and see if that makes a difference, but these shadows are on the powder side and don’t tend to blend really well in general.

My eyes also look horrific this close up because I am sick and they are baggy. I think the lines multiplied over night. I am not a fan of that. I’m hoping it is temporary and that I will go back to looking a little less wrinkle-ly eyed and droopy once the sickness has passed.

If you look at the shadow though I started with the application of the shadow on the outside of the eye and then blended in. I ended up with a stripe of Ursula purple on the center and lighter everywhere else. I tried the light pink on the inner corner and then tried to blend out but the shadow wasn’t really having it. I am not a fan of this look or this shadow. Tomorrow there will be lid primer and we will see if that helps, for now, not a fan.

And so that was my look today. i chose favorites for the most part that I didn’t have to think about and then struggled with the shadow. I am also horrified by how bad my eyes look right now and hoping a good nights sleep will help.

I do think that getting dressed and actually putting on makeup did help my state of mind though. I feel a little bit better mentally just for doing it. I will admit though, My pajama pants are calling to me.

The Daily: June 27th, 2022

Good afternoon my darlings. Today has been a day of waiting. Or at least it feels like it has been. It is my birthday today so I deliberately adjusted my workload so today would be a light one. Tonight will be a fabulous dinner from one of our favorite local restaurants (i.e. not one I have to cook) and there is an ice cream cake waiting in the freezer for after dinner.

we get it from the local ice cream place. It is a once a year thing and each year they always looked stunned that we don’t want a message written in caramel for the small child it is no doubt for. They always look shocked that it is a birthday cake for a grown woman.

Personally I think my babydoll likes going in there and watching their surprise. I told him the cake wasn’t necessary this year and he looked so crestfallen that I recanted and planned to just do a little extra working out this week to make up for the extra calories.

So now it is waiting for after dinner.

The truth is though, despite the birthday treats waiting for the end of the work day, it feels like a waiting day because of the weather. It is looming. The air is heavy, the wind is low and feels like something big is holding it’s breath. There are clouds massing, but still holding back. We are supposed to get rain, there is an 80% chance of it, but the rain is biding it’s own time.

I always find it vaguely amusing at this time of year. In Spring it always feels like I should be building an ark and I generally find myself wondering how many cubits my back yard can hold. Then the spring rains trickle off and all the moisture hangs in the air with rain a distant memory and the world withering to a crisp around me. So I am waiting for the rain to actually break, if it will, and I am waiting for my birthday celebration.

I went on a walk because the temps have dropped a smidge. I came back drenched from the 90% humidity though and ended up taking a cold shower. My hair always looks a little crazy after that and my bangs are just misbehaving. Nonetheless, I am relatively happy with the way I look today, and that is not a bad thing on a birthday.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Yensa Tone Up Primer

Foundation: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Foundation

Bronzer: Buxom Cosmetics Staycation Vibes Bronzer

Blush: Dominique Cosmetics Cream Blush

Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent powder

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Honey Palette

Mascara: Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir (discontinued, just using the last one up)

Lips: bareMinerals Mineralist Lip gloss

Today’s makeup was chose for a variety of reasons. I chose the primer because I love it, and know how it works with my skin. I’ve used this Yensa Primer for years (off and on) and will continue to repurchase it. I am going through my foundations one by one to see which i like, which shades work now and which I just need to use up and let go. I haven’t used the Charlotte Tilbury in a while so I figured I’d give it a go. It is a foundation that requires a bit of time. It isn’t a simple blend in and go operation. This takes a foundation brush to spread evenly, followed by a makeup sponge to get rid of the lines. I always have to take extra time around my nose as it tends to go streaky there. As much time as it takes though, it ends up looking really good when i am done. I like it and I think I will use this bottle up completely, mostly for days when i have the time to play with it, but takes time to play with so it isn’t an every morning kind of product.

By contrast, I raced through the rest of my makeup. With the nice looking foundation, it looked fine and actually I am really falling in love with this cream blush. It really blends beautifully and I am happy to use it. This shade works for me, but looking at the range I am not sure any of the other shades would work for me. I do like this one though. It is darker in the pan then on the cheeks so that is something to be aware of when shopping.

the Urban Decay I really like. I went super easy today. Mostly because I took so long with the foundation. One dip into the mattes and a tap off is all it takes then blend out and top with a shimmer. That’s what I went for today and then I called it good. The bare minerals lip gloss seemed like a good accompaniment. It is a light wash of color and a formula that not only looks good on but leaves my lips feeling nourished well after it has disappeared.

So that is me today. The shirt I am wearing actually came from my drape fit box. This has been a fantastic shirt for meetings. The material doesn’t wrinkle and it looks dressy but is super light weight and feels soft. it looks good on camera and in meetings. It may be the only thing I kept from my Drape Fit Box, but it has proven to be utterly fantastic. And now it is back to work for me. Have a great Monday everyone.

And if you are interested in Urban Decay, set your calendars as there is a sale coming up It starts on Thursday

Flash Sale! Enjoy 50% Off Heat / Reloaded palette + Lash Freak + Holiday Sets at Urban Decay Canada! No code needed. Valid 6/30 – 7/3

The Daily: June 21st, 2022

Today I am taking advantage of what may be the last cool day for a while. While It was raging hot last week, we had some cool weather over the weekend. It spilled over into the beginning of the week and From the weather reports it looks like today may be the last day we can expect it. So…To the walking trail we go.

I went on a long walk this morning and the weather was simply fabulous. Then just before lunch I snuck in a second walk. It was a bit more sweat inducing but it wasn’t pass out from heat exhaustion hot. I have watched the temps and the heat index rise since I returned so I suspect this may be my last post 9am walk for a while.

I enjoyed it though.

Even if i will end up working late this evening to make up for the time the second walk took out of my day. It was worth it.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Sephora Smooth and Blur Primer

Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation

Bronzer: Trestique Bronzing Stick

Blush: Dominique Cosmetics Silk Tone Cream Blush

Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Honey eyeshadow palette

Mascara: Patrick Ta Major Volume Mascara

Lips: Yensa Super 8 Lip oil in Pink Shine

Today as you might notice looks pretty much like yesterday did with the exception of the foundation. With my last Sephora order i received two foundation samples so I figured I would go ahead and use them this week to see if either was worth looking into for a full foundation test. This year I not only finished out several of my in process foundations but with Becca no longer in existence and now Kristofer Buckle gone I may have to start branching out in my products.

I used the last of the Sephora Primer today and my thoughts remain the same. It is a good basic primer. It isn’t something I would look for specifically but i wouldn’t mind using it again if it came my way.

The sample I have of the foundation was really small. I had to combine three shades to cover my face with product. The blend actually worked really well. And as annoying as it was to have to blend shades just to get enough product, I really like the way this feels on my kin. It blended well with no streaking and feels weightless. I’m actually quite impressed with it. It is holding up well today. I might be able to combine a few of the other shades for a second use, but I’m not entirely sure how well the remaining shades will blend for me. I do like it enough that I might consider picking up a full sized bottle and giving it a go. It really is performing well. The main issue is now figuring out which shade actually does work for me since i had to combine a few. But it seems like a good product.

Today I was also still impressed with the Dominique cosmetics blush. It really blends nicely. I layered a little more than yesterday on and am pleased with it’s buildability. I tend to go pretty light on blush, but it is nice to know i can go darker if I want. It is a good product and a beautiful packaging so I expect i will be reaching for it often.

The Naked Honey I still love as much as yesterday. I only needed one dip into the dark brown and it blended well over the eyes. It is highly pigmented though which is something to watch out for. I think to go lighter I would have to apply with one brush and blend with a second clean one. I am enjoying playing with the different gold tones though. this palette is so me though. I’m glad I finally picked it up.

The mascara is a bit of a let down. For something called major Volume I’d expect a little more volume. This is just basic. It does last all day without flaking and is light and comfortable to wear, but aside from being a good everyday mascara I’m not seeing much in the way of volume enhancement. I might try layering it on a bit more thickly tomorrow and see what I come up with.

So that my darlings is me today. I am pleased with the walk and pleased with the way this foundation performed. I can’t say i am pleased that I’ll have to work late tonight to make up the time I spent on the extra walk, but I regret nothing. The walk was fabulous and I am glad I took it, even if it does extend the work day. So now it is back to work for me. I will see you back here again tomorrow. Have a fantastic day.

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The Daily: June 20th, 2022

Happy Monday my darlings. Have you ever wanted something but put off purchasing it because you knew you really didn’t need it? And then you saw it go on sale for half price and picked it up anyway? I finally purchased the Urban Decay Naked Honey Palette. I know I have plenty of browns and golds and bronzes, but This palette simply appealed to me. I talked myself out of buying it so many times and then poof I got an e-mail saying it was fifty percent off. A few clicks later and it was purchased.

I have to say I am extremely surprised by how fast it reached me. I woke up Saturday Morning and it was by the front door. I ordered it Thursday afternoon.

How fab does that look? Okay, for those of you who aren’t into neutrals maybe it isn’t so fab, But I really like this palette and can’t wait to try it out. I had the original Naked palette and used every shadow down to pan before i let it go. It was the only palette from the Naked line that I purchased. And in those days I had a very small apartment and only three eyeshadow palettes. Which probably played into how much I used it. It was my go to work palette. I am thrilled to give a new Naked palette a try. I’m just sort of tickled in general.

Other than that it is a pretty quiet day. Nothing went crazy over the weekend it seems so today is just rolling along smoothly. I love Mondays like that.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Sephora Smooth and Blur Primer

Foundation: Kristopher Buckle Triplicity Foundation Stick

Bronzer: Trestique Bronzing Stick

Blush: Dominique Cosmetics Silk Tone Cream Blush

Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Honey eyeshadow palette

Mascara: Patrick Ta Major Volume Mascara

Lips: Yensa Super 8 Lip oil in Pink Shine

I know, it was mostly about the eyeshadow today. But there were several new products used. This was the second use of the Sephora Primer. It is a bit on the slippy side so you shouldn’t use too much. It is an okay primer. I wouldn’t go to Sephora specifically to purchase it, but I might cuck it into the cart while shopping.

The Kristopher Buckle Foundation is fantastic. I adore it. But as it is now no longer available anywhere but on Amazon (even Walmart ran out and the brand’s sites are all null) so I think it is safe to say that it is no more. I will keep this in rotation so that I can use it up and then let it go. It is sad because it is fabulous. And I am trying not to be tempted by Amazon.

As always love the trestique bronzing stick. They are now refillable so fabulous got een better. I like the formula and I love the ease of application for this product.

This was a first use for the Dominique Cosmetics Cream blush. One swirl of the finger in the pan was enough product. It went onto the cheeks easily and blended like a dream. It didn’t blend out and disappear like some cream blushes but it blended smoothly and easily. I was going for light today so I didn’t do a second swirl to see if it can be built up, but I will try that tomorrow. Today though it worked well.

The Laura Mercier setting powder is new to my line up. I heard so many rave reviews so when Sephora had the powder and a caviar shadow stick set (travel size) a a Birthday gift for this month, I picked it up with my order. (I know lots of people do look what I ordered from Sephora posts, but I tend to order one or two things at a time, rather than load up on lots at once. I know I’d probably save on shipping if I did that as well as have more dramatic purchasing unboxings, but that’s just not really how i shop. This time I was restocking my hand sanitizer – Touchland Power Mist, I’ve used it for a while now and will have a post up about it tomorrow actually. In case you were wondering about my big Sephora order. It was the Hand sanitizer and the birthday gift)

The powder worked well. It didn’t really want to come out of the little holes and kept blocking up, but when I did apply it it felt rather nice. I can see why it is well thought of. I may have to enlarge the holes to use it more effectively, but I did like it.

And yes, we have come to the eyeshadow. I loved this palette. The shadows needed to be tapped off of the brush, but after that I didn’t really have any powder fall out. The shadows I used layered beautifully without becoming muddy. In that past some UD shadows Have had blending issues. while I only had the Naked Palette, I had several single shadows and they tended to be used as one and done because they didn’t play well with others. This seems fine. I used the darkest gold as my shimmer and I absolutely adored it. Since I’m testing it I will be using it for the next week or so. we’ll see if all those neutral brown and gold shades get boring r if I like it just as much at the end of the trial as i do now, but at the moment I really like it.

The Patrick TA mascara was nice. It dried fast which is nice, but major volume it really isn’t. It is a nice mascara and it has worn well today, but it isn’t all that exciting. Perhaps it will get better with use, we shall see.

I rounded the look out with my favorite lip oil from Yensa and called it a day. Its fab, it always is. And now for me, there is work to be done. Yes, the paperwork is calling. well actually that may just be final edits on my latest manuscript. Soon another book will be out. Sooooooon. I am so ready to finish it and move on to a new cast of characters. And I am so close I can taste it. So it is back to work for me. Have a great rest of your day my darlings. And remember, if you put all of your commas in the right place the first time, your revisions won’t look like your editor bled all over the manuscript. Not seeing the red speckles everywhere make editing much more pleasant.