Travel Makeup for a weekend trip

While this is the travel makeup I used, to be honest, it came in handy only once this weekend. That’s right this was church makeup this weekend. On Friday I drove down wearing a night mask for extra skin hydration and once I arrived, Friday and Saturday were filled with errands. I didn’t slow down to put makeup on. I think I used the pressed powder to dust away the shine, I brought pink toned powder to it had the benefit of some skin brightening.

No when this makeup came into it’s own was when I found myself in charge of the church bound carpool. Yup, me and three older ladies who would gasp theatrically, but sincerely at the thought of going to church without makeup. Since I knew this was when i would be wearing the makeup the most, i did choose not only for ease of travel, but for location of wearing so, what did I pack?

Under eye concealer: Beauty Pie Superluminous Under Eye Genius

Primer: Beauty Bakerie: The Butter Primer

Foundation: Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick

Bronzer: Trestique Bronzing stick

Blush/lips: Axiology Color Cream (currently they have a 20% off sale going on if you are interested, just click the link)

Highlighter: Wander Beauty Wanderess Glow

Setting Powder: Beseme Cosmetics Pressed Powder compact in Aurora

Eyeshadow: Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Diva Lights

Mascara: Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara

The more I use this Beauty Pie dark circle corrector the more I love it. It takes so very little to make a big difference. I also used it as a spot concealer over some red spots and it worked beautifully. I used it under the primer and it worked like a dream.

I like this primer for travel because it is a stick, and therefore won’t spill (a common theme with the items I chose) and because it is a really good primer. It really locks everything into place.

The foundation again, stick formula so no potential spillage and this formula works kust so beautifully. Ulta (at least the one near me) no longer carries it but it is on the Revolution Website. I hope it never leaves as it has been my go to travel foundation for about five years now. I think this may be my fifth or even sixth tube of it. Once I found a shade that worked, i kept repurchasing it. On me it does need a setting powder though.

I love the Trestique and will happily travel with it. I am actually really liking cream products more and more actually. And this one comes with a built in brush so I didn’t need to add a brush for it to the bag. It is just an over all good product.

The Axiology was my cream blush and my lip product this weekend. I added a brush for the lips and went in lightly just to give a light tint. The product feels like a lip balm on the lips and brought a nice flush. It isn’t terribly long lasting on the lips, but I didn’t need it to be. It lasts well on the cheeks though and it blends like a dream. It gives a nice light flush to the cheeks. It is buildable, but light was kind of where I was going and this worked.

I am still using the Wander Beauty highlighter. It is a sample size so it fit well in the bag. I think the brand may have cut it from their line up though as i couldn’t find it on the website and when I could find it the product was always out of stock. I was hoping to use up the sample and then purchase the full size but I might need some investigation followed by a potential new plan. (and product trial)

While I do prefer loose powder for setting, this slim compact worked better with my travel plans. Plus on the days I didn’t wear makeup a dusting of pink powder over my skin kept me from looking washed out (hello, five second fix).

I like this Charlotte Tilbury Quad because it is quick and easy and soft and subtle. And as it was a church look I didn’t need something too out there. I really only did a dusting of the lighter brown on the lids and a little of the shimmer on the inner corners and called it a day. I did use the Stila mascara which did go a bit more dramatic, but no one noticed. Or at least they didn’t comment.

They did comment on my reading glasses though and one little only lady tried to steal them. Well maybe steal is a bit harsh of a term. Apparently she “forgets that other people’s things aren’t hers” at least according to my mother. Frankly that sounds like stealing since it is not a medical pasted “forgetting” and she had been doing it for at least thirty years. She wasn’t in the carpool but sits in the same pew. The reading glassess are the Thin Optics ones so I understand why she wanted them, because they are fabulous. But I have my eye on you, Ms. Betty. My reading glasses will not be left unattended.

Other than the reading glasses, it was a drama less event. At least on my part. When Ms. Betty tried to walk off with someone else’s bible i was another story. The bible had one of those elaborate zippered book covers that Ms. Betty apparently couldn’t resist. Although it did have a pocket with reading glasses in the front as well so maybe that was the draw.

But the makeup went well the trip. I chose it for it’s ease of use and smaller packaging. All of the products worked well and I was very happy. I just need to keep a closer watch on my reading glasses.

The Daily: May 24th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. I hope all is well with you. After the insanity that was yesterday, today is running along smoothly. I don’t want to say that too loudly in case anyone is listening and decides I don’t have enough trauma in my day. Thus far, two thumbs up.

Well maybe one and a half.

The neighborhood cats are back. They have decided that the one low garden bed in the back of the yard is actually their litter box. It means about half of the newly sprouted seedlings were destroyed after they decided to bury their waste. My babydoll is picking up some natural cat repellant that should be okay with the plants. With luck that will work. I’d hat to have an entire garden bed that i can’t use. Admittedly i will now have to replant most of it, but that is something for weekend me to deal with.

Today I am again working at my desk. And if nothing happens, then it will remain that way until the end of the day. I have my fingers crossed. This morning it was only in the mid fifties so I had a lovely walk without feeling like my skin was going to melt off my bones. It was glorious. I don’t know how many mornings I am going to get like that, so I am going to be waking up just a little bit earlier the rest of the week to take advantage while I can. I figure one nice walk in the morning and then one sweaty one after the heat has broken and i will be able to keep on track. Thus far I am good. usually this system lasts until mid June. I am not entirely sure i will get that long this year but I am hoping. Every time I see my neighbor he predicts a scorcher of a summer. He isn’t an officially accurate gauge but he keeps repeating it so it is stuck in my head like a song i just can’t forget. I hope he is wrong though.

Today’s Look

Primer: Stila All about the Blur Primer

Foundation: IRL Filter foundation from Revolution Beauty

Bronzer: Fenty Beauty Sun StalkR palette

Blush: Yensa Serum Silk Cream Blush

Setting Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Setting Powder

Eyeshadow: Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde Palette (currently on sale on the HUDA site for $26.80 instead of $67 if you are interested. The link is general and not an affiliate one if you click it then you will just go to the main brand site)

Mascara: MAC Magic Extension Mascara

Lips: NARS in Shanghai Express topped with Fenty Gloss bomb in Diamond Milk

Okay, still getting the hang of this primer but I am really liking it. I can tell this Stila Primer is going to be on the favorites list this year. I am wrapping up my Revolution trial and since i already know what I think about it (review tomorrow) I went ahead and used the Stila today with the Revolution. It is a really good foundation. Lots of coverage without lots of product and it wears well.

I used the Fenty bronzer today because the palette lets me adjust which shade works for me. while I am mostly in my summer skin already, I am not full on summer tan yet so having a palette works for me. I do like the formula as well. this and the Fenty Gloss Bomb are pretty much my two favorite Fenty Products. And I used the Gloss Bomb to top the Nars Lipstick. it is a Matte lipstick, but i thought today needed just a little bit of gloss. They work well together and I adore the newer Nars lipsticks. They are less dry than they were before but still last well.

This is the second use of the Yensa blush and I am in love. A quick swirl in the pan with the brush and the blush applie beautifully. It belnds out so well and doesn’t leave a spot where the brush initially touched down. I am very impressed by this cream blush and have a feeling i will be using it for a while.

The ABH Setting powder is good. it sets well but is so messy. I always feel a little wasteful when I use it because of how much powder gets scattered everywhere. It is a good setting powder, but the mess of it occasionally gets to me. So once this one is empty i am not entirely sure i will repurchase it even though it performs well.

Today is more about the eyes than anything. I reached for one of my neutral palettes and then I saw the Huda and decided today that was the one I wanted. I did start off with a soft look but then I saw Mercury. It is kind of a mermaid blue and I just had to go for it. I think that is one of the reasons I don’t reach for it a lot. I open it and think, yeah I can create an everyday look with this. Which I can. but then in the middle of the everyday look I see the shimmers and just can’t resist. I really do like the shadows though. They perform really well. The mattes blend so beautifully. I will end up getting a wear line through the shimmer though since I didn’t use a lid primer. If I use one I don’t get the line (i have hooded eyes so it wears where the fold). it doesn’t bother me that much so I don’t bother with the lid primer. Mostly because I haven’t really found a lit primer I like. At the moment I use concealer when I want to use a lid primer, which is rarely. But it works well. There are just so few times where it is that important.

I may actually keep this palette out and use it more. It is light and summery and I really do love the way it performs. And who knows, after a few days of giving into the shimmers I may be able to resist and come up with a more office friendly look. Today of course the shimmers won.

I can’t say I am as thrilled with the MAC Mascara though. It has a very strong scent and it requires at least three coats to look how I prefer. It is a fine everyday mascara, but there is nothing to make it stand out. There is nothing that makes me want it over other mascaras. In fact I have several drug store mascaras I prefer. Plus the scent gives me a bit of a headache. I’ll use it, but then I will let it go. I am left with the thought every time I use it that MAC is usually better than this.

And with that my darlings I will leave you. there are e-mails to answer, calls to return and editing to be done. And today, i am the one who has to do it. I will see you bright and early tomorrow though, so have a great afternoon.

The Daily: May 17th, 2023

it is Wednesday my darlings. Somehow this week has flown by. I think it is a product of having far too much to do in one time span, work is jam packed and keeping me hopping with several looming deadlines. And then of course there is the gardening. At this time of year the weeds are coming up at about the same rate as the seeds I actually planted in the ground. So there is always the came of, is this what I planted or an invasive weed I must destroy.

Its like my own personal game show. The theme song that plays in my head usually starts off as Wheel of Fortune but almost always switches to Jeopardy midway through. I think it is because I always pick the weeds I am sure are weeds first. Like picking consonants you know are often used before you go for the q or the x. By then my brain has switched to plant trivia and I am onto the Jeopardy theme song.

Such is life.

I think I did pretty good with last evening’s pass through. There are a couple of seedlings I need to look up before I do my evening garden chores tonight. I know what i planted last year and I am comparing those seedlings to what is sprouting in a patch I am not sure if i planted this year. everyone give three cheers to the garden notebook!

It’s the only way I keep track of volunteer plants that I want to welcome and those I need to get rid of.

At least most of the feral cats have gone. I think they might have moved a few houses down. Not sure why. I assumed when I didn’t see them for a while that some one took care of them while i was out of town. Turns out they don’t like my yard any more. Except for one big fat gray and white cat. He likes my yard well enough and gives me the stink eye every time I have to go outside into the yard. If he has to, he will shift just a bit to stay out of my way and then stare at me while i work. The when I go back into the house he moves back to where he started and then turns to look at me.

Thus far it hasn’t been a problem. If it becomes a problem i will break out my secret weapon – the hose. That’s right. I will start out with the mist setting and go to gentle shower. If all else fails I will use the power stream that I can’t use on my plants because it dislodges too much dirt. Last time I needed it, the mist setting sent the cats running. I suspect this one will need the gentle shower. I doubt I’ll have to go full on power spray. (It isn’t a pressure washer just a garden hose with an adjustable nozzle. So no one will be hurt if I have to use the full spray force. It is just a bit much for little seedlings and the surrounding dirt.

And if I am truly honest I won’t spray the cat directly, I’ll spray the ground near him and then chase behind him as he runs away rather than actually aiming at the cat. I’m not that mean about it. And if they didn’t dig up plants then i wouldn’t bother. They just keep digging up the plants. So I use scare tactics.

Today’s Look

Primer: Tatcha the Liquid Silk Canvas Primer

Foundation: IRL Filter foundation from Revolution

Bronzer: Trestique Bronzing Stick

Blush: Nars Orgasm Blush

Highlight: Wander Beauty Wanderess Glow After Hours

Setting powder: Bellapierre Banana Bright Setting Powder

Eyeshadow: ABH Soft Glam 2 Mini Palette

Under brow: Eyeko Highlighting stick

Mascara: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Mascara

Lips: NYX Suede matte Lipstick

I am still rotating through my primers with this foundation. The Tatcha is working beautifully with it. It is a really great paring. And i am noticing that the travel sized bottle of the liquid primer is getting very low. I am also running out of the balm style primer from Tatcha and will soon have to decide which one to repurchase. I can’t justify buying both at the same time. I love them, but they are pricy. I can justify one for my birthday and then probably justify the other when Black Friday rolls around. I just have to decide which gets purchased when.

I am about a week in to testing out this foundation and I really enjoy it. Each use I like it better and better. It is just working really well for me. I only need one pump so it will last a while a well. Admittedly this is my summer shade so i would have to get a new shade in the fall. but as it is an inexpensive foundation that isn’t a problem. It is also an inexpensive foundation that feels expensive. It does have a slight paint smell to it, but it dissipates quickly.

As always I love the trestique as it blends well and doesn’t pull up foundation. And I adore the Wander beauty highlight as it blends for a soft glow. The Nars blush is also a favorite. Plus I wanted to try out a powder blush with this foundation (I’ve been using cream products). It worked well and I love the shade.

With the eyeshadow I just went with the simple Dusty Rose and a little bit of the shimmer dreamer. Mostly because I was sort of in a rush today and didn’t want to think too hard about eyeshadow. That’s usually when I grab a blush or a bronzer and decide it will work for eyeshadow. Since the palette was out i just went one and done (well two and done) and called it good. Not terribly exciting but it works.

This setting powder darkened my foundation just slightly, which the translucent powder didn’t. I think I am going to keep it for lighter shades I need to adjust. It is a good setting powder though. I just didn’t realize it was tinted until I opened it. And yes I was too lazy to trade it out.

I chose the ABH Lash brag today because it gives me super fab lashes with one swipe an I wanted to try it out right after trying out the MAC. The MAC is good for every day, but the ABH brings the drama.

And finally I used the NYX lipstick. This suede formula is really comfortable to wear. It is a bullet style so it doesn’t really dry down and you will leave lip prints but it does last for quite a while and is very comfortable to wear.

And so my darlings, that is me today. As always Wednesday leaves me feeling like there is way too much to do in way too short a time. So today I will feel panicked about getting everything done and then tomorrow I will more than likely realize I am ahead of things. I don’t know why that is my system. It just is. It sort of works. it just makes Wednesdays a bit busy. So it is back to work for me. Have a great afternoon.

The Daily: May 16th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. I am feeling significantly less annoyed today. My bank has decided that I was in the right and all the money taken out by people I don’t know was returned. I still have the update everything that needs to be updated ahead of me and I can’t use my debit card at the moment, but it is still less annoying.

There is just an intensely powerless feeling that comes from something like this that I absolutely hate.

But it is being dealt with. So no more need be said.

Today I feel like doing a rain dance. I don’t know if it will help but the weather just feels like it needs one final push in order to just rain and get it over with. The air is heavy with moisture and rain is predicted. However rain has been predicted for the last week and yet, no rain. It is a very looming sensation. And it feels like just one push could send it over the edge and cause the rain to fall.

I don’t know if it is a rain dance, some sort of plant based sacrifice or if someone who just spent over an hour doing their hair needs to utter the words, ‘No, I don’t think I’ll need an umbrella today.’ but it just needs one more thing to push it into actual raining.

Maybe I should hide the umbrellas and break out the curling iron.

Perhaps if it hasn’t rained by dinner time.

the worst part though isn’t the looming. It is the gardening. I have to water the plants to make sure they get enough water, but it feels like it could rain at any second. So I get to play the nightly guessing game of should I water or will it rain. Fun stuff. But that just comes with the time of year. I am fairly certain I complained of the same thing last year around this time. It is the eternal complaint. And oddly, there is something comforting in that.

Today’s look:

Primer: Beauty Bakerie The Butter Primer Stick

Foundation: Revolution Beauty IRL Filter Foundation

Bronzer/Highlight: Fenty Beauty Sun stalk R palette

Blush and Lips: Depology Tinted Balm Stick

Setting Powder: Ciate London Everyday Vacaay Powder

Eyes: Anastasia Beverly hills Soft Glam 2 Mini Palette

Mascara: MAC Magic Extension

I am switching through primers to see how the Revolution foundation works with them. the Beauty Bakerie Butter primer does a really good job at filling the pores and I think it does make this foundation look a little bit better. It actually has looked really good no matter what i put under it, but with my skin texture the pore filling looks the best I am actually starting to fall in love with this foundation. My skin just looks so good while wearing it and It feels good on the skin. It is oil free which helps in the summer time though. I suspect in the winter when I am dry I will need to put some moisturizer on about 10 minutes before applying this foundation so if you are a dry skin person you may want to think about the moisturizer just prior to using this formula. For me I am entering the oily phase of the year and it is working well for me. It is a bit more full coverage than I am used to though.

But I do love the way it looks.

I used the Fenty palette today for bronzer and highlight. I like the bronzer and the bronzer also works well for a quick shadow look but the highlighters are just okay. They work better as shimmer shadows than they do as highlights.

I do love this Ciate setting powder though. I know I need to change out my powders, but I just haven’t gotten around to it so I grabbed the one that was out.

Today in addition to using the Depology as blush I remembered to try it a lipstick. I used a lip brush. It applies well and I think it looks good. The tint is pretty good. It feels comfortable on he lips. The one issue is that it does not dry down at all. So there are a trail of lip prints left behind and this does wear it off pretty rabidly. Oddly once all of the product is worn off the lips are still slightly rosy in a my lips but better look. It isn’t like they are stained, but it just looks a little more like a sheer lip gloss with a hint of tint. If it weren’t for the trail of lip prints I would be happy. I think that I will continue to use it as blush and know that if i had to i could use it on my lips in a pinch, but probably not use it unless I forgot my lipstick when packing.

I love this Soft Glam palette from ABH. In truth I could probably use the dusty rose shade as a one and done and be perfectly happy. I did layer a few shades though. I was more restrained than before. I really like how today’ look turned out actually. The shadows are powdery. All ABH shadows are. But they blend so beautifully. Just remember to tap off the brush before applying and you will be fine. this is one of those palettes I could probably use every day and be happy. they are just the perfect everyday shades for me.

The MAC mascara is proving interesting. It lengthens well with about four coats on the lashes. It feels like it might apply better with a fluffier brush. And oddly enough the mascara has a slightly floral fragrance mixed in with the mascara scent. I find this a little odd. It isn’t a bad everyday mascara, but you do need multiple coats and I suspect the tube will not last all that long because of that.

And that my darlings is me today. I am just tickled pink by the Soft Glam and I am so glad I picked it up as an add on. It just works so well as an everyday palette. As fond of the palette as I am right now I have to say this foundation is the day’s top product. Revolution really did well with this formula.

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The Daily: May 15th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. we have managed to make it to the middle of May. I don’t know why that surprised me so much to see the date on the calendar this morning. I think because the first week of may seemed to just last forever and drag out so that I didn’t expect the Poof! its the 15th.

I can sort of understand why that happened this month, but I can’t be the only one who is sometimes surprised by time.

Admittedly that is a much nicer surprise than Friday’s surprise bonanza. I got an alert from my bank regarding fraudulent charges. The big one was for around nine hundred dollars and that triggered the alarm, but once I started dealing with that, I found there were fifteen other charges made on Friday that some how didn’t trigger the alert. They were all between $16-$25. The bank has been really good about it, but I ended up spending a large portion of Friday going through my bank records line by line and I am going to have to get a new debit card and switch out a whole bunch of things when it comes it. Plus I have to put off several planned purchases.

While it was taken care of and in the grand scheme of things isn’t that horrific, it was just a load of annoyances. I don’t know about you but I have found i can deal well with emergencies and full on traumas better than I can with loads of little annoyances. I think because of the emergencies you just sort of buckle down and deal with it, without stopping to think too much about how you feel about it until it is done. With these little things you deal with it, and then react, and then deal with it some more. And everything gets just ratcheted up a notch, especially when you know the parts you are dealing with are separated while someone else deals with the center. I called the bank and went through my records. Now the bank is dealing with it and then later i will have to deal with it again as I get a new card.

Maybe it is anticipation of future annoyance.

I don’t know,. I do know that to make myself feel better I did a Nightmare on Elm Street Movie Marathon over the weekend. There is nothing like old school slasher films to make you feel just a little bit better about things. I think it is because they can be so over the top. Like the death of Johnny Depp and the fountain of blood shooting up from his bed. Very over the top. But it did make me feel better. even if it wasn’t what I planned this weekend.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat Primer

Foundation: Revolution IRL Filter Foundation

Bronzer: Trestique Bronzing stick

Blush: Depology Multi use tinted Balm

Setting Powder: Ciate London Everyday Vacaay Setting Powder

Highlighter: Wander Beauty Wanderess Glow

Eyeshadow: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance

Under brow Highlight: Eyeko Spotlight Highlighting stick

Mascara: MAC Magic Extension Mascara

Lips: Seraphine Botanicals topped with OFRA liquid lip

I am testing out the Revolution foundation so I am rotating through different primers to see how they play with the foundation. Today I used the YSL. I tired a sample of this primer and I used up every drop of the primer in the sample. It was so good and I did end up buying the full sized one when Sephora had their annual sale. It works so much better in the full size with the pump instead of the stick in the sample. I love it.

I don’t think it was the right primer with this foundation though. The primer smooths and adds a bit of a glow to the skin, which works well, but I think this foundation needs a bit more pore filling than the primer provides. I like how my skin looks, but I think I need a bit more pore filling.

The foundation does work well with the cream bronzer and blush. It stayed on my cheeks as I applied the products instead of peeling up, which can occasionally happen. This didn’t so I was very pleased. Also I think I managed to get the blush even on both cheeks so that is a plus.

I love the wander Beauty Highlight. It is just a lovely glow to the cheeks. I could go brighter if I wanted, but i do love how it just blends in. I have a sample and when I finish the sample I will be purchasing the full size. I am a bit concerned that it keeps going out of stock. I am hoping that it is because other people like it as much as I do and not because they are thinking of discontinuing it. It just has a great soft glow that I really like.

I have to admit I went a little bonkers with the shadow. Normally I use two the three shadows at the most. I think because this is a palette that i used to use and loved, I went over board. I kept dipping into the shadow and thinking, Oh I used to really love this one… And then I just kept going. I like ABH Shadows. They are always powdery in the pan and my new palette no longer looks so new after one use. You have to tap off the brush before you apply or you will get powder everywhere. Today’s look was a bit all over the place because I just got excited. So I’ll calm down and not try to use all of the shadows at once next time I reach for it.

I am glad that i reached for the Eyeko stick to use under my brows though. And use i should have reached for a brow product as well (I do have several I want to try out actually) I have just gotten out of the habit with my brows. Love the Eyeko though.

This was the first use of the MAC mascara. It was good, but not as spectacular as I hoped. It lengthened well, I just expected a little more. Perhaps as I use it I will begin to like it more. It did well lengthening though.

And finally for the lips I layered two products. The Seraphine is a little too brown for me and makes my lips disappear into my face and the OFRA is too light and frosted for me. I put the two together and it worked out well. Not my favorite lips look, but it worked well. And I do like the OFRA formula. it is just a little too pink and frosty. I need to find a different shade. Great formula though.

And that my darlings is me today. A bit crazy with the eyeshadow, but otherwise not so bad. I will try and restrain myself in the future. And off we go for the rest of Monday. I hope you have a fabulous one.

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The Daily: May 11th, 2023

Do you know what happens when you spend too much time with neutral eyeshadow palettes? You end up rummaging through the drawer until you find one that had very few neutral shades and then you go a little crazy. At least if you are me you do.

At least today there was no glitter.

I find this kind of amusing actually. I love my browns and bronze and I often feel like I basically do the same makeup look everyday with just subtle differences. Which in fairness I probably do. Mostly because that suits my life right now. I am not going to festivals or out dancing much any more. I did end up dancing at a Barbeque event a few weeks ago, but that isn’t quite the same thing. (A friend just build a really large back deck and had people over for food and the music caused an impromptu dance party causing the few teenagers around to roll their eyes and hope their friends never saw.

But it was a jeans and sweatshirt kind of gathering. it was still cool enough for the fire bowl/pit thing. It was a fun night, but not one I paired with glitter eyeshadow. I think I just used a dash of bronzer on my lids actually.

But sometimes, the everyday looks just won’t cut it. Sometimes, like yesterday I decide that it is bare skin for the win and other times, like today, it is colorful palette time. And since it is just me at the desk today, it doesn’t actually matter. So shall we get into today’s look?

Today’s look

Primer: Stila All about the Blur Blurring and smoothing primer

Foundation: IRL Filter Longwear foundation Revolution

Bronzer: Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette

Blush: Depology Tinted Multi Stick

Setting Powder: Ciate London everyday Vacay translucent setting powder

Highlighter: Wander Beauty Wanderess Glow

Eyeshadow: Ciate London Royal Edition Palette

Mascara: Iconic London Triple Threat Mascara

Lips: NYX Suede Matte Lipstick topped with Wet ‘n Wild Happy to Be me Lip Gloss in its a 10/10

I know it is a new foundation so i need to try it with other primers but I really just wanted to use the Stila again before i start switching out the primers to test the foundation. Then of course I’ll go back to the primer and start switching out the foundations. I just wanted to use this again because I really like it. It fills in the pores really nicely and evens out the skin tone well. It is also very light weight

The foundation blended beautifully today. I Only needed one pump because a little goes a really long way. that is something to remember, it is very easy to overdo it with this foundation. I am really liking the way it is wearing. I haven’t had issues with settling, but it is early days.

This is the time of year where bronzer palettes really shine and this Coco Contour works well. The multiple shades alow me to get the right one for my seasonal changing skin tone and I really like it. I don’t know if it is being made anymore as all the places I found it listed also said it was currently out of stock, and it wasn’t on the Too Faced Site, but it it a great palette I will continue to use until it is either used up or expired. A it still smells of chocolate, I think I am still good.

The Depology blush is another item I have to tread softly with as it is highly pigmented. At the moment though it is my ability to get them even height on both cheeks that I am working on. That is a me problem and constant with all blushes. For some reason I always go higher on my left cheek than I do on my right. Sometimes blending makes them look eve, other times not. the deeper the pigment the more my off balance looks. I think i did okay today.

I love this Wander Beauty Highlight. I think it may be one of my favorites. I can put a stripe on my cheek and then go in with a brush to blend it to a soft glow. I know it doesn’t stand out in the photo, but I am not really a fan of dramatic highlighters. I love the soft glow.

And then we get to the eyeshadow. Ciate Shadows are interesting. Some palettes I simply don’t get along with. And some palettes I adore. Sometimes it is the color story and other times the formula. To be honest, there is no rhyme or reason that I can figure out. some brands do mattes really well and some are the shimmering queens. when Ciate gets a palette right they get all of them right. When they don’t I find all of the shadows hard to work with. I have found no pattern. If anyone does know a pattern let me know.

This is one of the good ones. It does have some browns in it, but to be honest as soon as I open it my eyes go to the green shimmer, the blue shimmer and the icy blue of spectre. There are a lot of pink and peach tones in the palette as well. And to be honest as soon as I open it, I want every shade but the brown. In fact if you look at it, the brown shadow is untouched. These shadows can be powdery when you dip into them, but if you tap off your brush before you apply you should be fine. The only one you really have to watch out for shedding excess pigment is the dark blue of Jublee. Which i of course used today. It did have a little excess but a powder brush swiped it away. I know for some it isn’t all that over the top but for me this was a bright and colorful look. and I really enjoyed it. I also think I need to play with this palette more and give the neutrals a little rest.

The mascara was a little disappointing. This Iconic London Mascara is almost used up. i know I have been saying that a lot recently, but the other mascaras were opened at the same time and used up pretty much at the end of the time span I was willing to use them. This one is running out of product well before the deadline of disposal. It isn’t my favorite. it lengthens well, but not as well as others. It is called a triple threat but really all it does is lengthen.

with the lips i started with the Matte Nyx. Very comfortable formula with little transfer after it settles in. And then it just looked too matte when paired with the eyes. So I topped it with the wet ;n wild gloss. Personally I like how it turned out.

Actually I like how everything turned out. I needed a little something bright today, and i got it. Somedays, you just have to break away from the neutrals. For me, today was that day.

The Daily: May 9th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. I hope your Tuesday has been going swimmingly. Mine has been a bit bumpy. My computer started closing things down after I’d open them and then informed me I didn’t have enough memory to open , well anything. So I did a mass browsing history, cache clear out and pretty much jettisoned anything I thought was extraneous.

Seriously it was like trying keep a ship from sinking.

And then I found out someone installed a game on the desk top that my computer was simply not equipped to handle. which was why my simple fixes weren’t working.

It’s all good now. And I got a sheepish apology.

Productivity sort of went out the window though.

But today I got to use some new makeup. I know it doesn’t make up for the lack of productivity. Working late ton9ight and possibly tomorrow night will fix that. But I did go to Ulta yesterday, An actual in person visit too. Not an order on line and pick it up. This was the first time I actually went into the store and shopped since 2020.

I wanted to get a tinted moisturizer for summer. Mysteriously all of the shades that suited me were out. It was like an imp went in before me and said ‘Ha Ha not tinted moisturizer for you’. They were also out of the Buxom Matte Lip I wanted as well. It was very strange. All of the things I planned to pick up weren’t there.

Did that stop me from shopping? Alas for my bank account, no. I picked up a Stila Primer, A new Revolution foundation, a Buxom Lip scrub (which i had been eyeing on line and was going to add to my next on-line order anyway so it sort of counts as something i was planning to buy) and a NYX Lipstick. And yes I used all but the lip scrub in today’s makeup.

In all fairness I did need a summer shade of foundation. I can’t really justify the rest. But I am going to enjoy it.

still no sun so I took the pic in the bathroom where at least the light comes from the front and not overhead

Today’s Look

Primer: Stila All about the Blur Blurring and smoothing primer

Foundation: IRL Filter Longwear foundation Revolution

Bronzer/highlight/eyeshadow: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalkr Palette

Blush: Depology Tinted Multi Stick

Setting Powder: Ciate London everyday Vacay translucent setting powder

Mascara: Tarte Light Camera Lashes Mascara

Lips: NYX Suede Matte Lipstick

A long time ago I used the Stila Soufflé Primer and loved it. It came in a fabulous jar that I ended up keeping around long after the product was used up. It has long since been discontinued but I loved it. I recently tried a color correcting primer from Stila and it reminded me that i hadn’t looked at Stila products in a while generally. So I took a stroll through the aisle. In the tested it seemed a lot like the old formula I loved so i took a chance. This primer lacks the whipped texture of the soufflé primer, but it works more or less the same. I actually really enjoyed the way it performed today. It is light weight and doing a good job of smoothing out my skin into an even texture, which is what i look for in a primer most days. To keep testing the foundation, I will have to set it to the side for a bit. I like to test foundations with different primers.

Again I chose this revolution foundation because I used to use the Fast Base products from Revolution. I still purchase the Fast base Stick Foundation on line actually from the Revolution site, but they weren’t in the store. I instead chose to try out their IRL Filter foundation. It does smell a little like paint when first dispensed, but it dissipates quickly and isn’t as heavy as some of the paint smelling foundations I have tried before. Which means it didn’t give me a headache. It also performed beautifully. It is my summer shade and I am already contemplating going back and picking up a winter shade when my skin loses it’s summer tan. It is a breathable formula that feels light weight and blends out beautifully. I will be trying it out and seeing if the joy continues, but this was a very positive first wear test.

I took out the Fenty Beauty Palette mostly to remind myself how much i enjoy it. I am going to have to do a clear out soon and declutter a lot of products. I am never going to be a minimalist, but after a certain point having too many products makes me a bit angsty. Plus everyone was pro neutral palette for a long time as far as subscription boxes go so I have loads of browns that I just need to whittle down to the ones I really enjoy using. Oddly, while Fenty is not my favorite brand I do really enjoy this palette. It is a really good bronzer and an okay highlight and a good simple eye look. I didn’t feel like going back for another palette today. Which is also the problem of the overstuffed drawer. The Fenty palette worked well today. It is a very neutral look but i like it.

I like the Depology cream blush but I have to remember that less is more. It is highly pigmented so one tap on the skin is enough. it is very easy to go overboard. But it blends so beautifully. I just need to remember a little restraint and i am fine.

I went with the Ciate Setting powder today. This is the Everyday Vacaay Setting powder. It smells like coconut. Interestingly, while it looks like their regular translucent setting powder in everyway except the scent, it doesn’t have the same white flash back that the other setting powder does. The coconut is nice and luckily fairly light. I like coconut scented things but once summer arrives, coconut and watermelon scented products will be everywhere. How about we make this summer the year of the citrus? This summer give Lime and lemon and Yuzu a chance to shine. Or at least let them run along side the coconut and Watermelon Juggernauts of summer scented products. It did lighten just a little bit, which is fine. This is my summer foundation and i am still edging into my summer tan. So it worked out.

Give limes a chance. That’s all I’m asking.

The Lights Camera Lashes is one of my favorite Tarts Mascaras. I also Like Maneater because it adds great volume, This gives really great length. Put together they are unstoppable. But they are nice separately too. This mascara works well with a simple basic eye look. It lets the lashes really pop.

and finally the NYX Suede lipstick. It is soft and creamy and wears well without drying out. It is a bullet style lipstick but after a few minutes of letting it settle in i didn’t get a lot of transfer to the rim of my coffee mug. There was a ghost of color but not a real solid lip print, which I like. I prefer my lipstick on my lips and not my coffee mug.

Over all I was really happy with my makeup today. And given the irritation of technology, it was nice to have something go well. I am also really pleased with my purchases from Ulta, even if they weren’t the items I went there to buy in the first place. Recently I have been working hard to eliminate and use up older products so they won’t expire before they can be used. Sometimes it is nice to just pick up something new.

The Daily: April 18th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. I am feeling much better rested than yesterday. It was interesting. I spent the weekend running around and felt fine. Came home and felt fine and then after a good night’s sleep in my own bed I woke up feeling stiff and exhausted.

I think it is one of those times where you are enjoying yourself so much you don’t realize you are getting worn out until you stop. And then you just collapse. Yesterday I did what needed to be done and nothing beyond. we also came back later on Sunday than we planned.

While it does throw my internal clock off a bit, my brain still thinking today is Monday, I am glad I had the space to take some time off yesterday. Half a day was more than enough for me.

But that is in the past. Today is Tuesday and thus far it has been going well. I anticipated a huge backlog since my holiday weekend didn’t line up with anyone else’s holiday, but thus far it has been pretty calm and easy. In fact that is why I felt good about taking half a day yesterday. No craziness erupted while I was gone. I think the craziness of post holiday insanity is because so many people take the holiday off. The more people you have taking the same time off, the crazier it gets. I’m sure there is some mathematical equation for that somewhere. Someone has to have figured it out. With just me taking off, no one else was crazed so my reentry into the work week was smooth.

At least that is my story and I am sticking to it.

I will admit I did not get up for my morning workout this morning. I intended to but hit the snooze button one too many times to make it happen. So that is something I will add in a little later today. As for today’s makeup, I went with the items I put in my travel kit. Partially because I didn’t do a post on my traveling makeup before I left and partially because I noticed the bag was still unpacked when I went to get ready this morning. when I unpacked the bags I put the makeup bag on the dressing table and then went off to do laundry. So I am unpacking and using it today. So let’s see what I traveled with.

Today’s Look

Primer: Tatcha the Liquid Silk Canvas Protective Primer

Foundation: Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick

Face Palette: Pur Cosmetics 4-in-1 Face Perfecting Powders

Eye shadow: Elf Cosmetics Bite Sized Palette in Cream and Sugar

Mascara: Thrive Casusmetics Black Mascara

Lips: Tatcha tinted Kissu Lip Mask Plum Blossom

This weekend’s travel was low key with just a few ventures out of the house so I went with low key products. The Tatcha Silk canvas in liquid is a really good primer and this is a travel size which, as one might expect, travels well. while I love the balm version of this primer, when traveling I am always worried about losing the little metal disk for getting the product out. While this is a liquid, once on the skin it feels exactly like the balm version and works just as well, so it is ideal for traveling. Although I may pick up the travel size of the balm version to see how that travels. For now, I loved this and it worked well.

The Revolution Fast Base is the perfect traveling foundation. It is s stick so there is no leakage and it applied really quickly. As there are very limited numbers of bathrooms at my mother’s house and no mirrors anywhere except the bathroom (and my little travel mirror) quick is really good. It is a creamy formula that doesn’t need to warm up. I draw a few lines on my face, blend with a brush and I am done. It is definitely an eight hour max foundation. This is not a long wear product, but for those eight hours it looks great.

The Pur palette has been a travel palette for me for quite some time. It works well but it is beginning to show its age The highlighter is starting to go hard pan. Which is easy to fix I just haven’t gotten around to it. To fix it you just put a piece of cellar tape over the pan and press lightly into the powder. Then pull it up and the hard pan will come with it. You may have to do it a couple of times to fix it, but it generally works.

This is a good travel palette because everything is there. The blush isn’t my favorite, but I can make it work and this lets me keep my travel makeup bag small. Since I over packed the skincare, a smaller bag helped.

For Eyeshadow I went with the Elf Bite Sized palette in Cream and sugar, t is simple and easy to use and the four pans are really well thought out. Again, speed is of the essence in getting ready. The lack of bathrooms help but also because I seem to be one of the last of the time keepers left in the family. In my family there are those of us who schedule things and like to show up on time. And there are those who simply say we can leave any time and then suddenly tell you we need to get going five minutes before you need to leave the house. It has caused many family squabbles in the past. So when i visit I make sure I can get ready quickly and have learned to keep my mouth shut. I know it will happen and I know I can’t change it so I just prepare.

I am a scheduler but I accept not everyone else is. I also detest being late to something, but that doesn’t seem to bother anyone else so I am working on letting that go. At least with regards to family.

Moving on.

Eyeshadow. I really like these bite sized palettes as they are easy to use and put together well. This is the second Cream and Sugar palette I have had. I dropped the first one and it was open at the time. The dark brown shadow cracked and eventually exploded all over the inside of the palette. If it was closed I think it might have been fine. The plastic is quite sturdy. But it was open and dropped from table heights so it did not survive. It did travel well though and didn’t take up a lot of space.

The thrive Causmetics mascara is nice but I think today might have been the last use of the mascara. There was a very hollow sound and not much product came out. It is a good mascara though and I will be picking it up again.

And finally for the lips. I added the tinted Tatcha mask and just used it as a slightly tinted lip this weekend. My lips were feeling dry and my mom’s house always seems to dry me out. I always seem to use twice as much body lotion at her house than I do normally. So using the Lip mask as my lip product helped. And it looked nice.

And so my darlings, that is not only me today but it was my travel makeup for the weekend as well. And now my makeup bag is unpacked so win win. And back to work we go. A workout is in my future this afternoon, I just want to get a couple of things checked off my to do list before I start on that. My plan is to finish my list, do my exercises, shower and then prep for dinner. Tonight I am trying out a recipe for a vegetable and herb pie from a medieval cookbook, wish me luck!

The Daily: March 30th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. Today has been one of those days that keeps you on your toes. It started this morning with my morning workout which as the sun started to rise enough to shed light in the garden tempted the neighborhood cats to the yard. A yowling signaled a dispute for territorial dominance over my newly seeded planter box which I settled by stepping outside and kicking them both out of the planting bed.

I have no illusions about my dominance being permanent and I suspect there will need to be some plant protecting measures as the seeds start to rise. Surprisingly it is only the one planter box that they all seem to want to control. I don’t know why. All the boxes got a topping of the same fresh soil as they were running low and the seeds are still below ground (edamame and carrots in case you were wondering). I suspect it is some feline version of capture the flag and this is just the box they chose.

Either way it was an interesting start to the day.

The rest of the morning was hopping. I had reached the conclusion that today might be a skin care day because I just didn’t have time for makeup, and then i found out that one of my meetings was not on the phone as I thought but included a video component. So in an attempt to not look like death warmed over thanks to the sinus reaction of constantly shifting temperatures, I did what I like to think of the as the two minute makeup look. This look was built for speed.

Today’s Look:

Primer: YSL Touche Eclat Primer

Foundation: Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick

Bronzer/Blush: OFRA Cosmetics Blush/Bronzer duo

Eyeshadow: the bronzer from the OFRA Duo

Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Magnet Mascara

Lips: RMS Beauty Lip gloss in Darling Lane

This is going to be quick. Not as quick as application, but not lengthy. Today I used the last of the YSL Primer. It is now officially empty. I am sad but I will at some point when i clear out a few other primers from the drawer, purchase this one in a full size.

The Revolution Fast base is my favorite quick foundation. A couple of stripes across the face and then a quick blend with a brush and you are done. I am using F11 which to be honest is more of a summer shade for me. But it worked. Even if it is slightly on the darker side. Incidentally Revolution is having a 70% off sale right now. So If you are looking to stock up, now might be the time.

Today the OFRA duo was not only blush and bronzer but eyeshadow as well. I went in light with the bronzer and it blended well. The blush needs a fluffy brush because it is so pigmented. I ended up using a brush I would normally use for highlighting instead of my normal blush brush because it was a duo and my brush was too big. I kept getting too much bronzer on it. Other than the brush selection it went well. The bronzer I used for eyeshadow. A quick dip in with a shadow brush, a tap to get off the excess and a swipe across the lids. Simple and fast.

Because the shadow was so simple the mascara really popped and my lashes look quite nice. The mascara always looks nice, but with fewer distractions it really gets to show off.

And finally i topped off the look with the RMS lip gloss. The shade is a my lips but better one and it is a really nourishing formula.

I know, quick and easy today. It may not be glamorous but it did keep me from looking like death warmed over at my meeting. A meeting where the video aspect was completely pointless I might add. A regular phone call would have worked. But I am not in charge of such things. So video it was. And now I am going to get back to work. I hope everyone has a fantastic rest of the day.

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The Daily: March 13th, 2023

Good afternoon my darlings. I am just now starting to feel back on track. I know last week was a bit coocoo pants, but things have started to settle back down on that front. My babydoll is back to work. His sinuses are still draining but he is on the mend. No fever and most importantly his blood pressure is back under control.

which gives me a great deal of relief.

It also means things are back to normal, or at least normal-ish. I was able to write up a meal plan instead of moving around an under the weather man. In addition I slept this weekend. I slept a lot this weekend. I really needed it. If you added up all of my sleep from last week you would be pushing it to scrape into double digits. I more or less collapsed this weekend. Aside from meal planning, grocery shopping and making sure the seedlings in my greenhouse were watered, I watched the two new episodes of Survivor that were on Paramount+ and zoned out to a podcast on the ancient Sumerians. And Akkadians. And Babylonians.

Okay I went on an ancient history binge.

But I feel well rested. This morning was a bit harsh though. I am back to getting up a little early to get my morning workout in. It seemed extra early this morning as the time changed on Sunday. We sprung forward which is a polite way to say that someone stole an hour from me and I had to get up when it was still dark. As you can tell, I am not a fan of spring forward. I don’t mind getting up at dawn’s first ight, but I do like if dawn is at least attempting to get up with me. I do not like to get up before dawn’s arrival. I like at least a sliver of light in the sky before I wake up. If I don’t have that I feel vaguely off.

I know, in a few weeks I’ll get the dawn back and all will even out, it just seemed to be a little much with restarting my morning exercises after taking much of last week off. The exercises did help push away some of the morning fog though. Which was nice. And it was light when i finished so I did feel better. I just have to consider the workouts as a prelude to starting my day. Therefore I am waking up into the prelude in the dark and then starting the day when the day finally arrives.

I know, semantics, but it makes me feel just a little bit better. Don’t worry, I wont grouse about this until the sun shifts. I just have a tradition of grumping about the spring time change. It is just a first day grump. And now it is done so we can move on.

Today’s Look

Primer: Basic Beauty Smooth and Blur primer

Foundation: No 7 Lift and Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation

Bronzer: Trestique Bronzing stick

Blush: Axiology Color Cream

Brows: Grande Brow-Fill Volumizing Brow Gel

Eyeshadow: ZeeSea Eyeshadow Compact Palace Identity #02

Setting Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Translucent setting powder

Mascara: Pur Cosmetics Fully Charged Mascara

Lips: Axiology Lip to Lid Balmies in nude plum topped with Revolution Pout Bomb Plumping Lip gloss

I’ll be honest, I looked to my dressing table and the one palette I keep out more for decorative purposes than anything else is the Palace identity Palette. The compact is so beautiful. But because it is always out, it tends to get forgotten. I open the eyeshadow drawer and choose from there, not even looking at it. Today I saw it and decided I wanted to use it, so I did. It is a lovely soft look. I do find that I always come up with the exact same shadow look when I reach for this palette. which is fine, but not something I want to reach for every day. the shadows work well. It is a nice fairly easy formula to work with and it doesn’t have a lot of fall out. And it is beautiful. I always feel kind of special using it.

I am still trying out the samples from my primer collection this month. My goal is to use all of the samples up and then decide if any of them need to be purchased in the full size. Today I went with the Basic Beauty sample. It is a clear gel and it does go on wet. I had to fan myself to dry it down. Which lent an extra note of fancy to my proceedings as I am incapable of using a fan without thinking of the old fashioned fan signals from eras gone by.

You’ll be happy to know that rejected the advances of the upstart lord trying to gain my affections. At least i think I did. I may have to run through a list of meanings.

The primer is clear so there is no covering of redness. My skin was very silky soft and there was no stickiness whatsoever. I am not certain I like the clear formula. I have a few days of use left so we’ll see how it progresses this week, but it just seemed okay when I applied it. Basic seems to be the right word for it.

I did love my No 7 though. It is a really nice formula and well, you know I think it is one of the best drugstore foundations out there. It blends out without looking cakey and it lasts all day. I am a huge fan. I will of course be rotating through foundations as I try out primers.

I went with my favorite bronzer today as well. Mostly because it was still out and I love it. The Trestique just works for me as a bronzer. And I love that it is now refillable. I did mean to try out the cream blush that came in my Beauty Fox box but I thought cream bronzer and just reached for the Axiology. I suspect that is going to become habit. I really enjoy the color cream as a blush. It blends so well and can go light or dark. I am looking forward to trying this out in the summer actually once my skin tans. I think I can actually use this shade as a year round shade, which I find exciting.

Some days it is the little things.

I also used Axiology in the lips today. I went with the plum Nude Balmies for my lips and then just wanted a little shine so i added the pout bomb from revolution. The two made a surprisingly good pairing. The shade is my lips but better and then the gloss just made them, well glossy. Over all I was pleased. It was a soft look for the day, but when I reach for this eye shadow palette i know it will be.

And for today it works. I’ll be at my desk for most of the day. I am hoping to slip in a walk later this afternoon if the rain holds off. This morning was a bit damp and drizzly. It cleared up a little about half an hour ago, so I might try to slip in some out door time before the rain returns. I don’t think the park is currently flooded. I have my fingers crossed. I’m also hoping that being up before the sun earned me some karmic brownie points. We shall see. Have a great rest of your Monday.