My Quest For The Perfect Travel Makeup Kit

There has not been one pre-made travel palette out there that I have purchased and thought -- this is just PERFECT!!!  I came somewhat close until I realized I hated the formula of the shadows.  Otherwise, I've found travel palettes missing a crucial element, lacking in fun colors or including things I won't use.  It was up to me to undertake the task of putting together the ultimate travel palette for myself.

The most difficult item to find for my palette was a decent shimmery highlighter.  There was no way I was going to depot my Becca highlighters or my TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer.  Some things just belong in their compacts.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I heard about an indie brand called Looxi Beauty from Young Wild and Polished.  She showed them in her Z-Palette; but, I wanted to know what they looked like on.  I saw a video where a gal swatched them; but, said they weren't shimmery enough for her.  I decided to take a chance and order some anyway.

I was pleasantly surprised.  They were quite shimmery.  This was after I ordered one of Anastasia Beverly Hill's Champagne refill pans and felt -- Meh! -- about it.  (I'm still waiting for Makeup Geek to release her highlighters. They promise to be uber shimmery!!!)

Below, I have the name of the palette I bought, as well as the brands and shades of all the pans!  This is by no means a "permanent" collection.  I'm sure to switch things around in the future.  If I do, there will be another post. :)

Another Soul on Etsy:  LUXE Premium Magnetic Makeup Palette - Seven Kingdoms.  A really beautiful sturdy palette!!!

Ta Ta For Now!

(It's Sophie!!!)

April 2016 Favorites -- Jewelry, Home & More...

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1. Skeletos (Etsy)Triple Owl Talon Hoops, Sterling Silver:  I fell in love with these the second I saw them.  These are edgy without being huge.  
2. WitcheryWay (Etsy) The Ritual Altar Skull:  "Adorned with a stylized Solomon pentagram and alchemical markings and symbols. Representing Venus, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, & Jupiter."  I love this because it, to me, represents misunderstanding.  A superstitious person, or a person who was uneducated in Wicca, probably looks at this and thinks it's all about "Satanism" or devil worship, when it is nothing of the kind.  This is the same type of harmful misunderstanding that makes black cats difficult to adopt and the first to be euthanized.  This represents a lot to me. 
3. Blood Milk Jewels Easeful Death. Large Labradorite Coffin Ring:  This was a birthday gift that I asked for.  Blood Milk makes such wonderful jewelry.  I love that her jewelry has a gothy feel without being juvenile.  Her jewelry has a dark elegance to it.
4. Blood Milk Jewels 2 of Swords. Tarot earrings:  The more I saw these earrings in pictures, the more I had to have them.  I'm so glad I have them.  I would recommend putting those little silicone backings on them when wearing them.  Since the earrings are so long, they can get dislodged from the ear easily if you shrug etc.
5. Fox Houdini & Doyle:  The was, from what I heard a Canadian series that got picked up by Fox.  I hope it hangs around.  It starts in 1901 just at the end of the Victorian era and the start of the Edwardian era.  I wouldn't want to live back then; but, I find movies, TV and books set in the dingy part of these eras fascinating.
6. Blood Milk Jewels Petite Lunar Oracle Planchette Ring -- This can be worn as a regular ring or a midi ring.  I thought I had better jump on this because she was retiring this ring this year.  I love it!!!
7. Serrelynda (Etsy) Wide Silver Cuff Bracelet Statement Butterfly Moth Art Nouveau:  I wanted some bold cuffs; and, this fit the bill!   I love the butterly/moth theme too!
8. Blood Milk Jewels As above, so below. Lorraine cross necklace:  This necklace is great on its own or layered with a shorter necklace or choker. I've even worn it with a slightly shorter chunky amethyst crystal necklace.
9. PlaceTile Designs Dry-Erase Menu Message Board, Ceramic:  I wanted a small dry erase board that could stand up by itself on my desk.  I was ecstatic to find that they had black ones, and that this was made of glazed ceramic tile!  I use chalk markers on mine.
10. Tuscany Leather MONALISA Doctor gladstone leather bag with front straps:  I just loved that this doctor bag had an edgy Steampunk look and was a quality bag.  
11. Blood Milk Jewels Swan Song Noir Ring:  For some reason, I thought this was a really small ring when I saw it on the website.  Then, I saw Jessica Haze wearing it either on her YouTube channel Mirrors and Haze or on her Instagram page.  It wasn't small at all!  I had to have it when I saw the size of it!!!  I just love the feather details! One of my favorite rings!

Ta Ta For Now!

April 2016 Beauty & Bath Favorites

No Bath stuff for April 2016.  April seemed to partly be about "shopping my stash"; and, finding favorites in things I didn't think I liked.  That's always really satisfying -- especially when the favorites turn out to be inexpensive!

1. Paula's Choice The Nude Mattes Eyeshadow Palette and Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigment Palette:  These were two palettes that, individually, I felt "Meh!" about and almost regretted buying -- as they just sat in my makeup drawer, barely used, making me feel guilty.  Then, one day I started using the two together, mixing the bright red-orange in the UD palette with the reddish brown in the PC palette, then accompanying it with the purples, and some blending colors and even the bright yellow-green in the inner corner of the eye.  It's a surprisingly quick and easy look that's edgy and more neutral.
2. Laura Geller Baked Vanilla Highlighter:  I went years hearing about this highlighter but never trying it.  Then I actually had one in my possesion and didn't know what to do with it; because, it wasn't as shimmery as a Becca or The Balm highlighter.  Then I started noticing that I needed something other than a strictly matte powder to set and brighten my undereyes.  This works so beautifully for that!  No more dry looking undereyes!!! Love, love, love!!!
3. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Nosferatu: This is described as a blood crimson.  I love that it has a hint of brown in it.  A very flattering red.
4. e.l.f. Studio Blush Brush: This is the brush I love using with Laura Geller's Baked Vanilla highlighter.  Puts just enought powder on.
5. e.l.f. Tweezers:  I heard about these from emilynoel83.  They work really well and are only $1!  Yes! $1!!!  I've since bought at least 15 as I'm always misplacing tweezers.  LOL
6. It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Ombre Blush Sugar Plum: Lately, I find I love a mauve blush.  I also love a shimmery blush.  This combines both beautifully and is quite pigmented.
7. Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette:  First, the packaging is beautiful!  I almost wouldn't have thought I'd like a palette like this; but, the pops of color and the gorgeous blending shades make this an enjoyable palette to use.
8. Nyx Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette:  Nyx makes some really good highlighters!  I'm not sure why most drugstore brands are not able to create decent highlighters. (Because, clearly it can be done!)  I particularly love the lavender highlighter that is in there!
9. Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette: A really beautiful blush palette with warm and cool shades.  There's even a highlight and a bronzer in the palette!
10. Wet N Wild Color Icon Contouring Palette -749A Dulce De Leche:  I did not think I was going to buy another one of these; because, I do not care for the highlighting part of the palette. BUT -- I loved the contouring part of the palette too much to not buy a second one!  The contour blends nicely, is not too cool, not too pigmented (I can't stand having to blend for days because a contour is uber pigmented) and is a great price!
11. e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder:  I put this powder away for at least a year, thinking I wasn't crazy about it.  Then, for some reason, I decided to use it again.  And I loved it!!! It feels good on the face and doesn't leave my face looking dusty or cakey.  I am almost out of it and have since bought two backups!!
12. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector™ Spotlight Trio:  This is another item I though I didn't like.  I don't like using this as a cheek highlighter.  I love, however using this with high coverage foundations like Kat Von D's Lock It!  It takes down the coverage when I need something a little less and imparts a glow to the face that my e.l.f. HD powder takes down enough to look really nice!

Ta Ta For Now!

2016 January - April Empties

I finally put together an empties post.  This year is a year of using up non-cruelty free products, as well as using products that have less than half  left.  If I've found that a product is not cruelty free, I state that.  I've already got a few more empties since posting this blog entry.  Yay!!

1. This is from the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector™ Spotlight Trio -- that I got a couple of Christmas seasons ago.  The color up above is Pearl.  I find I like using these mixed in foundation.  After I'm done with the trio, I have a drugstore illuminator to use. When I'm done all of them, I may get a full sized bottle of the Becca's Opal.
2. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer. -- This one's actually a cheat.  I used about 1/2 the tube on its own.  I used the rest of the tube with an orange corrector and primer to make peachy colored gel like concealer.  I will be doing a post about it.  A lot of people like this concealer.  This concealer is so thick, to me, and not easy to work with.
3. Nyx Cosmetics Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand -- I liked this concealer.  It covered well and was easy to use.  However, it seemed like I didn't get a whole lot of uses out of this.  I have a couple more tubes of this.  I'll have to see if it was just my imagination or not.
4. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer Treatment -- I actually like this product; but, it is not cruelty free so I will not purchase anymore -- unless Maybelline goes cruelty free.  I still have a bottle and a third to use up from my old stock.

1. Nyx Slide on Eyeliner Pencil in Purple Blaze -- No, I have not used it up.  It dried out on me.  In its defense, I have had it for a couple of years.  On the other hand, I have colors I purchased at the same time that are still good.
2. Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum in Ultra Black -- This is a staple in my makeup arsenal.  I love it!!!  I love the brush tip, I love the way it makes my lashes look in the long run (it helps the lashes grow better).  I have a couple of backups of these on hand, always.
3. & 4. BH Studio Pro HD Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette and Medium -- Another staple in my arsenal.  I prefer the brunette one, though. I have many backups of these.

1. Nyx Cosmetics Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade -- Mine dried out on me; and, I hardly used any of it.

1. Colour Pop Eyeshadows: This is actually a cheat.  I depotted these.  These were my favorite colors to work with & I was tired of unscrewing each one individually to use them.  Would I buy them again?  Let's put it this way.  If I was the type of person who always stuck with what I could use right in the moment -- yes.  They're beautiful shadows and don't need any lid primer to last.  BUT -- since I'm a makeup addict -- no.  These are a cream powder hybrid that can eventually dry out and become unusable.  So, in the back of my mind, I'm always feeling this pressure to use them even when I don't want to.
2. Colors Below in the order I photographed them above:  I realized after pulling the above picture into the blog that it would probably be helpful if anyone reading this knew what the colors looked like since I made a palette out of them.  

Pictures don't do justice to:

Bae (Top middle): This is that color that is really popular nowadays.  A bloody purplish red with dark teal reflects.

Crimper (Middle left):  Can't really tell from this picture that this is really shimmery.  It's a really pretty champagne gold.

Game Face (the one hanging out all by itself):  Super metallic orangey copper.

Coconut (Bottom right): Coconut?  Strange name for this color.  A very shimmery almost teal blue.

1. Skindinavia The Makeup Primer Spray:  I loved this!!!  I bought this in The Makeup Artist Kit which comes with the Primer Spray and Bridal Spray (one of their finishing sprays).  I still have a bit of the Bridal Spray left.  It's not worth it, to me to buy the priming spray separately since one gets such a big discount by buying these in a set.  So, I'm going to wait till I finish with the Bridal spray.  I may actually try the Oil Control version next time..
2. Nyx Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray:  This was pretty good!  I was really hesitant to try it because a YouTuber said it smelled really chemically and felt like hair spray on the face.  I did not find either to be true. (I think I got this before I got Skindinavia.)

1. Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Serum: This was okay.  I didn't notice anything spectacular, using this. When I used this, I would double this as a face primer since it had a silicone feel.  Neutrogena is also not cruelty free; so, I will not be buying anything from them until they become cruelty free.
2. CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream Serum:  I noticed when using this, that my skin stayed clearer.  I've actually purchased the cream (am waiting for it in the mail) since my skin seems to want a little more moisturization that the serum offers.
3. Paula's Choice Resist BHA 9: I like this, this was my 2nd or 3rd purchase of this.  I may purchase it again, one day.  The only issue I have is that it's such a small amount for the price and the kind of usage I need from it.  It did seem to keep breakouts at bay, though.

1. Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion:  This was pretty good!  I've found, however, that my skin needs a more moisture preserving formula, lately.
2. Bioderma Sébium H2O Micellar Lotion For Mixed And Oily Skin
3. Bioderma Sébium H2O Micellar Lotion For Mixed And Oily Skin: I had heard so much hype about Bioderma.  It was fine.  It cleaned the skin.  I didn't like it enough to make a second purchase.  I also found out Bioderma is not cruelty free.
4. Almay Longwear & Waterproof Gentle Eye Makeup Remover:  This worked well.  If Almay was cruelty free; and, if Almay hadn't run their all-blonde "Simply American" ad, I would buy it again.
5. Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes:  I've heard people don't like these -- at least YouTubers.  These are pretty good, I feel.  They take makup off like they should.  They're good for travel as well.
6. CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser:  I didn't care for this.  I like a lot of CeraVe's stuff; but, this didn't seem to agree with my skin.  I felt like I was getting more breakouts.
   
    

1. The FootMate System Rejuvenating Gel:  This came with a foot scrubbing mat I purchased.  I actually added tea tree oil to it.  So no, nothing I'd seek out.  
2. Caress Evenly Gorgeous Burnt Brown Sugar & Karite Butter Body Wash:  I really like this; but it's not cruelty free.  Why, Caress, why?!  I have adfitional bottles to use up but will not repurchase unless they become cruelty-free.
3. Ltd. Edition Dove Winter Care Nourishing Body Wash:  This was also really nice; but, has the same story as above.  Until they decide to go cruelty free, not repurchasing.
4. Dr. Woods - All Natural Eco-Friendly Castile Soap Pure Tea Tree:  Cruelty-free!  Yay!  This is my "anti-bacterial" deodorant type body wash.  I will even wash my hair with this, once every few weeks if I'm particularly oily.

 

1. it's a 10 miracle leave-in product:  This is old.  I used to use this all the time.  I've been using a more natural, less expensive leave in conditioner that I love, lately.  More on that in the future.

1. VitaMelts Fast Melting Tablets Hair-Skin-Nails:  These didn't taste bad at all.  I wished I had read the ingredients, however, before buying.  It's just biotin.  I have since switched to Natrol's gummies.
2. VitaMelts Fast Melting Tablets Zinc:  I did not like the way these tasted.  I've switched to Vitacost's Chelated Zinc capsules.

Ta Ta For Now!