My MAC Rose Romance haul part 3: lip products

Hey guys! Here's the third and final part of my Rose Romance review, and today I'll be covering the lip products. There were a total of 9 lippies that came out with the collection - 3 lipsticks, 3 lipglosses, and 3 see thru lip colors.

The glosses: I got Virgin Kiss and Steal My Heart. I already had Magnetique from the Little Darlings holiday collection, so that's why it's smaller than the other two. Overall, the glosses are very pretty, but in my opinion, nothing different than what we've seen before. Virgin Kiss is a sheer pale pink with lots of silver glitter. It's not very pigmented, but the extra glitter is what makes it a little different from similar colors. It's comparable to Cherry Blossom from Cult Of Cherry, or Sugartrance from Fafi. It's very pretty, but I already have so many sheer pale pink glosses. If you're just starting your lippie collection, it's a great buy. Same goes for Steal My Heart - it's a color we've seen before (Wonderstruck lustreglass) but the excess amount of glitter sets it apart slightly. It's a sheer bright pink, and is actually more pigmented than I thought it would be. On my lips, it's pretty bright. Lastly is the most unique color, Magnetique. It's a deep berry color with shimmer, but no glitter. It's very pigmented, and while I love the color, it can be a bit much on someone as pale as me.

The lipsticks: I'm going to go against popular opinion here, and say that I don't really care for the lipsticks. I ended up getting A Rose Romance and Way To Love. The third one is Odyssey, and it is part of the permanent collection. It's a dark frosty plum color, and while it's pretty, I don't wear plum lipsticks very often. (On a side note, if you want a gorgeous plum lipstick, try Plum Dandy. It's beautiful) Don't get me wrong, the lipsticks are pretty - they're just nothing that I don't have already. Again, if you're looking to expand your collection they'd be perfect. A Rose Romance is cool medium pink with gold pearl, and Way To Love is a light nude pink. I was the most disappointed in Way To Love - on my hand I loved it - it looked like the kind of color that I always reach for. On my lips was another story - it was so sheer that it didn't really show up. Again, most people seem to absolutely love these lipsticks - this is just my opinion.

The See Thru lip colors: For those of you who are unfamiliar with these, they're basically lip stains. MAC has released these once or twice before, but I never got one. This time I felt the urge to try them out. I got Loving Touch (a sheer pearly light pink) and Tender Tryst (a sheer pearly plum). I passed on Secret Crush (a translucent red berry). As the descriptions imply, Loving Touch and Tender Tryst have a pearl like finish to them, while Secret Crush is just a flat color. I have to say that I don't care for these at all, but it's not do to the colors, I just realized that I'm not a fan of lip stains. They have a thin watery consistency, and they seem to need a few layers to build up the color. I don't like how they feel on my lips - I much prefer lipstick. I just don't see myself reaching for them. The nice thing about these though is that you can layer different glosses over them to get different effects (my friend Sara loves Virgin Kiss over Tender Tryst). I'm just not feeling this product - I feel like it's just to much hassle for mediocre results.

I guess what it boils down to for me, is that my collection of lip products has gotten so large that I feel like I didn't need any of these - lesson (hopefully) learned.

Thanks so much for stopping by - I really appreciate it. I hope you all have a great weekend - mine will be filled with baseball, movies, and family time. See ya next week junkies!!

A great sale: NYX

I just wanted to give you guys a heads up on a great sale - NYX cosmetics is offering you 50% off your entire order! And it lasts for two weeks, giving us plenty of time to stock up. NYX is a super affordable alternative to MAC and other high end brands. I own some of their single shadows, blushes, lashes, and jumbo eye pencils (these make great bases). Plus they have what seems like a million colors - something for everyone. I've also heard good things about their round lipsticks and lipglosses, but I can't verify that, as I've never tried them. With the 50% discount, their single shadows come out to $2.50, their regular powder blushes $3.00, and their jumbo pencils and round lipsticks are gonna run you $1.75. It's a win win for everyone - happy shopping!

FOTD: A soft Rose Romance look

Hey guys! I know I promised a review of the Rose Romance lip products - I am in the middle of writing it, and I promise it will be next! In the meantime, I thought I'd post a look I did the other day with many of the Rose Romance goodies. I know the pictures aren't great, but hopefully you get the general idea. It turned out nice - just a soft, simple look that could be worn for any occasion. I used:

Fresco Rose paintpot on lid with the 242 brush

Et tu Boquet over that with the 239

Of Summer blended in the crease with the 217

Shadowy Lady in the outer corner and blended slightly in the crease with the 217, then under lower lashes with the Sephora smudge brush

Mylar to high light with the 227

Macro Violet fluidline

Bare Essentuals buxom lash

Just A Pinch gel blush with the 109

Blush of Youth beauty powder over that with the 129

A Rose Romance lipstick

My MAC Rose Romance haul part 2: eye products

Hey there guys! Today I'll be reviewing the eye products that came out with MAC's Rose Romance collection. To see my overall thoughts on the collection, please refer to part one (face products).

There were 7 eye products that came out in this collection - 5 shadows and 2 pigments. Let's start with the pigments.

Circa Plum - This was a repromoted item, which came out with the Colour Forms collection last year. I didn't pick it up then, so I did this time. It's a frosty lavender plum color with an almost grey undertone to it. It's very subtle and could be worn day or night depending on what you pair it with. It's a great color that anyone could wear. Personally, I love plummy shades so I was all over this.

Mutiny - This was also a repromoted item, and it originally came out with the Naughty Nauticals collection. Again, I didn't have it so I picked it up this time. It's a gorgeous shimmery sky blue color - a little intimidating, but I can't wait to play around with it. It's definitely an eye catching color and is a very unique shade. I think it'll be great to wear in the summer.

Of the 5 shadows that are in the collection, 3 are new and 2 are in the permanent line: Creme de Violet and Shadowy Lady. I won't focus on those - I'll cover them when I go over my permanent shadow collection. But basically Shadowy Lady is a matte blackened plum color and Creme de Violet is bright violet with lots of gold shimmer. I got all three new shadows and have had the chance to wear them all.

Silverthorn (veluxe pearl)- In my opinion, this is the must have shadow of the collection. But I might be biased because I love silvers and veluxe pearls. This is a very unique color - MAC describes it as a mid tone grey with silver pearl, but I also see hints of green and gold to it. It is smooth and pigmented, and looks great over greenstroke paint pot. I wore it the other day on the lid with Deep Truth in the crease - I was very happy with it. When I put it in my palette of greys and silvers, there's definitely nothing else like it. This junkie loves it!

Of Summer (satin) - This is probably my least favorite shadow of the three, simply because the color payoff isn't great. I also feel that satins can be a little on the chalky side - but again, that's my opinion. It's a very pale lavender color with no shimmer or glitter. I wore it in the crease today with Et Tu Boquet on the lid, and while it didn't add much color, it blended the other colors out nicely. It's not a must have, but I don't regret getting it.

Et tu, Boquet? (frost) - I know a lot of people weren't feeling this color, but I actually really like it. It's a light frosty pink with a slight gold duochrome to it. I wore it over Fresco Rose paint pot today, and I really like how it turned out. The texture of this one is a little chunky, but it didn't bother me when I used it. I really think it's a unique color and worth checking out to form your own opinion.

My must haves? Mutiny and Silverthorn. I feel that these are gorgeous, unique colors that you probably can't find dupes for. I apologize that the swatches aren't the best - it was a really cloudy day. Please click on the pics to see them better - are you sick of me saying that? If you have any questions or want me to compare something, let me know!! The lippies will be next - see you then!

An update to today's earlier post

Hey again guys! I wanted to post an update - I used the gel blush today and wanted to let you know my thoughts on it. Overall, I really like it - it gave me a nice rosy cheeks look. On one side, I applied it with the MAC 188 and on the other I used the MAC 109. They both worked nicely, but if I had to pick, I'd go with the 109. I also found that I needed more product than the MUA led me to believe. Don't get me wrong - you don't have to use much, but I did dip my brush in a couple times. I put a little Blush of Youth beauty powder on top - it seemed to soften it a little, and probably helped set it. I also used it on my lips - not a huge fan of that. Like I thought, it did give them a nice pinky red stained look, but I don't care for the feeling of it on my lips. Just a personal preference I guess. All in all, this is a great product and I hope MAC puts out a few new colors. Hope that helps guys!! Next I'll go over the eye products from this collection. See you then!

My MAC Rose Romance haul part 1: Face products

Hey junkies! If you're a MAC addict like me, I'm sure you know about the Rose Romance collection that was just released. I think it was hit or miss for most people, but for me it was a dead center hit. The colors in the collection are very soft and light - very feminine colors if that makes any sense. I'm super duper pale, so the products were almost made for someone like me. But that's not to say that those of you with darker complexions couldn't rock a lot of these colors.

There were so many different items released with this collection - lippies, shadows, beauty powders, even a brand new product - a gel blush. I ended up with a lot, so I decided to break down my haul into three parts: face, eyes, and lips. Today's post will focus on the face - here's what I got:

Just a pinch gel blush - This was a brand new item for MAC. It's a gel formula that can be used on the cheeks or lips, and it comes in a little pot like their paint pots or tender tones. I haven't used it yet - I'm planning on wearing it today - but the MUA at MAC told me that a little goes a long way. He suggested applying it by dipping the 188 brush (I've also heard you can use the 109 or your fingers), getting a little on the tips, and then almost dabbing the excess off and working it into the bristles. Then start at the apples of your cheeks and blend. Depending on how much you use/blend it out, you can get just a light flush of color or a more dramatic rosy cheek. I think this will be a great product to use in the summer. I've heard that it looks great with a little Blush of Youth beauty powder on top. The MUA also told me that there's about 70 years of use in that little jar because you need such little product for each application. On your lips it gives an almost stained effect, and I imagine that it's super moisturizing.

Blush of Youth beauty powder - The beauty powders in this collection have a gorgeous embossed rose in the powder itself - and it's pretty deep into the powder, so it should stay like that for awhile. Blush of Youth is the lightest of the two - it's a warm dusty pink color with subtle gold pearl. I was able to use it as a light blush, but even on my pale self, I had to pack it on. It might be better as a high lighter or an all over face brightener. It's not matte, but it's not glittery or shimmery either. I think glowy would be the best way to describe it - it gives a healthy sheen to your skin. It's definitely buildable depending on what effect you want.

Summer Rose beauty powder - This one is the most popular of the two, simply because it's darker and therefore more people can work with it. It's a cool violet pink - violet shades are so "in" right now. I had no problem using this as a blush, and it has the same glowy finish. It's super pretty - definitely one of my favs in the whole collection.

Please click on the pics to see them better, and if you have any questions let me know!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Organizing the Stash: pigment samples and loose shadows

Hey junkies!! Today I'm going to show you how I organize all the little jars I have - whether they're pigment samples, mineral shadows, or glitters. It's another simple, easy, and cheap way to keep the stash organized and accessible!

Basically, I use bead boxes. They're just clear, plastic, divided containers and they're available at any craft store (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc) or even most Walmarts. They're $2-$3 each and they don't take up much room. You can stack them (I have two now, but need a third), and label them easily. Depending on the size of the jar, you can put 2-3 in each section, holding a total of 36-54 jars.

Hope that helps you guys - let me know what you think of this idea! Until next time!

The Junkie's stash: Urban Decay lipsticks

Hello again to my 4 followers! :) I hope you're having a good Wednesday, or hump day as we like to call it. Today I wanted to swatch my Urban Decay lipsticks for you guys. I think UD is best know for it's other products: shadows, liners, and primer potion to name a few. But I have to say that their lipsticks are my absolute favorite that I've tried. First off, I *love* the packaging. It is too cool - what other lipstick do you pull out with a tiny dagger?? The base is purple metallic, and the clear plastic cover is covered in purple swirls. When you twist the tube to get the product, the lipstick itself has a tiny dagger and the words Urban Decay imprinted into it. They're really high quality, you just have to check them out for yourself.

The actual formula of these lipsticks is a dream - creamy, pigmented, and long lasting. The finish of these varies from color to color, and the website does a good job of describing them. Some are more sheer, others have glitter, etc. There are a good amount of colors to choose from, and many of the names are really clever.

The only downside to these is the price - $22 each. When I bought my first one (Rush), I immediately regretted it. Then I got home and tried it - and the regret was quickly forgotten. Rush is my all time second favorite lipstick - I absolutely adore it. The formula of this one in particular is amazing. It's a nude color that I think would look great on anyone. It's perfection in a tube!!

The two that I swatched on the bottom are actually deluxe samples that UD sent me when I placed online orders. These are so cute - they're exactly like mini lipsticks - you take the top off and swivel the bottom to bring the lipstick up. They're definitely a great free gift with purchase.

My collection includes:
#1 Rush - a sheer creamy neutral pink with no sparkle
#2 Voo Doo - a full coverage dark pink with a glossy finish
#3 Trainwreck - a full coverage fuchsia with a glossy finish
#4 Midnight Cowboy - a sheer beige with shimmer
#5 Wanted - a sheer creamy warm berry with no sparkle
#6 Gash - a full coverage blood red with a glossy finish
#7 Sellout - a creamy full coverage warm neutral

On to the swatches - remember that you can click on the pics.

My top 5: Makeup Brands

Hey guys!! I wanted to make a quick list of my favorite brands of makeup, and let you know why they made the list.

#1 - MAC. I think this isn't a surprise to anyone who knows me. What's not to love about MAC? They have an amazing selection of colors - shadows, blushes, lippies, liners, you name it. They also have a huge range of foundation shades - more than any other company that I know of. They're pretty much a one stop shop for all your makeup needs. From primer to mascara, nail polish to remover, they have it all. Their back to MAC program is awesome, and no other company does anything like it - it's a win win for everyone. Their Viva Glam campaign is ground breaking, and it gives us a guilt free makeup purchase. :) Their image is cool and edgy, and there's something for everyone. They're constantly coming out with new products and collections - my wallet hates this, but I love it. My favorite thing about MAC? The fact that their products are high quality, but also affordable. Out of all the brands on my list, MAC is the cheapest.
Stand out product: their brushes

#2 - Urban Decay. UD was the second brand I fell in love with. Their fun, vibrant shades pulled me in. The packaging is too cool, and the brand just screams fun. Their primer potion is amazing, and their 24/7 liners are the best out there. They also have many palettes, which are a great way to try their products. Their shadows are extremely smooth and pigmented, and I adore their lipsticks.
Stand out product: their eye liners

#3 - Nars. I am somewhat of a Nars newbie, but my collection and love for them is growing. In my opinion, their products are the best out there, but they also come with a hefty price tag, which is their only downfall. What junkie doesn't love their Orgasm blush? It's definitely a staple in many collections. Their night series of shadows is amazing - I've never seen anything like them. Make sure you swatch their products - many of them look blah in the pan, but amazing when you swatch them. Most of their products are extremely, extremely pigmented - a little goes a long way, which means they last longer. Their product names are crazy and they like to push the envelope - Nars condoms/lip gloss combo anyone?
Stand out product: their blushes

#4 - Stila. If you haven't tried Stila's shadows, you must do so soon. I think they are the most finely milled, blendable shadows out there - great quality. Their kajal liners are amazing too - so soft and smudgable, and the best for your water line. I love their lip glazes too - they smell wonderful, and are not sticky. I hear great things about their smudge pots, but I haven't tried them yet.
Stand out product: their shadows

#5 - everyone else. I know this is a cop out, but I really couldn't pick the last one. There isn't another brand that really sticks out to me after these four, so it's going to be a combination of Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Benefit, and Smashbox. I love Bobbi Brown's shimmerbricks, Too Faced's shadows, Benefit's lipsticks, and Smashbox's glosses.


There you have it folks, my favorite makeup brands. I'd love to hear what you think - if you agree or disagree, and what yours are. Thanks for reading junkies!!

The Junkie's stash: Benefit lipsticks

Hello again junkies!! Today I'm sharing my collection of Benefit lipsticks with you. These lipsticks come in two formulas - silky finish and full finish. I have a couple of each, and I greatly prefer the full finish formula. I have three (La La Land, Ladies Choice, and Thrillin Brazillian) and they're smooth, creamy, long lasting, and the pigmentation is great - exactly what a lipstick should be. The silky finish ones (I do I do I do and Swoonderful) are more of a gloss/lipstick combo. They are much more sheer and have a glossy effect to them. The ones I own also have glitter, which is pretty, but makes for a much grittier consistancy. The five I have are:

1. La La Land - full finish - a nude rose color

2. Ladies Choice - full finish - a pink based nude - one of my all time favorite lipsticks of any brand

3. I do I do I do - silky finish - a sheer coral with glitter

4. Swoonderful - silky finish - a silvery pink with silver glitter

5. Thrillian Brazillian - full finish - a spiced chai brown based neutral

Benefit lipsticks are $18 each and available at Sephora or Benefitcosmetics.com. They are a little pricier than MAC lipsticks, but in my opinion, they are superior in quality (at least the full finish ones). My absolute favorite is Ladies Choice - I think it would look great on anyone, and is one of my top 5 favorite lipsticks. Hope this was helpful junkies!!

Why not haul on a gorgeous Friday afternoon?

What's up junkies!! I wanted to share with you the goodies I got when I was shopping yesterday. It was a gorgeous afternoon, and my sister took my kids to her house. I had hours to myself, and decided to do a little shopping. I went to Sephora first, then I headed over to the MAC counter at my local Macy's. Here's a list of the things I picked up:

1. Cargo beach blush in Cable Beach. This is my first Cargo blush, and it probably won't be my last. This thing is gorgeous! It has 4 stripes of color that you can swirl together, and the end result is this beautiful peachy coral shade with a gold sheen to it. It's similar to Orgasm by Nars, but darker. It also comes in the cutest little tin. I can't wait to use it! $26

2. Lorac shadow in Celebutante. This shadow reminds me of MAC Parrot or Steamy. It is a shimmery teal blue with a gold shift to it. The texture of Lorac shadows is really smooth and blendable. It will be perfect for spring and summer. $18

3. Kat Von D autograph eyeliner in Proud Peacock. This is my first liquid liner (besides the penultimate by MAC). I've been really into colored liners lately, and the Sephora sales person said these are really nice. You unscrew the top, and attached is a tiny brush. The color is a dark, dark emerald green - the swatch doesn't do it justice. $16

4. Benefit full finish lipstick in La La Land. I am a big fan of the Benefit lipsticks, especially the full finish ones. La La Land is a nude rose color. I tried it on last night, and I love it. I think it would look good on anyone, and the formula is so smooth and creamy. $18

5. The MAC 116 brush. This is a tapered blush brush, and I've had my eye on it for awhile. I have a few pics comparing it to the 129. The 116 is smaller, more dense, and softer. I think it will deliver a more precise application - perfect for blush, contour, or high lighting. I love MAC brushes, and I think they're a great investment. I try to buy one every so often to keep my collection growing. $32

6. MAC prep and prime transparent finishing powder. This is a new product which came out with the colour ready collection - but it will be permanent. I haven't tried it yet, but it has rave reviews. It is used to set your foundation, and it gives your face a soft diffused look. It also minimizes the look of pores and other imperfections. It comes in one universal shade that will work on all skin tones. I'll let you guys know what I think of it after I use it a few times. $21

As always, please click on the pics to make them bigger. Let me know if you have any questions - catch ya next time junkies!!

My first time: Nars velvet matte lip pencils

Happy Friday junkies!! Today's post is a review of the Nars velvet matte lip pencils. Marlena at makeupgeek.com used one recently in a tutorial, and I knew right away that I would love these. I was right! I couldn't decide which one to order, so I ordered three. Typical junkie behavior, but I digress. These babies are wonderful - they are smooth and creamy - not at all drying. You use the same pencil to line and fill, and you can put a gloss over them. They last a long time, and come in many colors. The only downside I see is the price tag - $24 each. They are available anywhere you get your Nars fix - for me that's narscosmetics.com or Sephora. The three colors I got are:

Bettina: natural beige
Roman Holiday: pastel pink
Sex Machine: pink mauve

Overall, I adore these and can't wait to add a few more to my collection. Like I always say, you really can't go wrong with Nars. Have a great weekend!!