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!!

Organizing the Stash: lip products

Hey there junkies!! Today I'm going to show you how I organize all of my lip products (aka lippies). I have way too many - which is funny considering that when I started buying makeup, I wasn't into them. Needless to say, I am now.

All of my MAC lipglasses, lusterglasses, and plushglasses are in a wicker basket that I got from Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I know they're not as organized as some peoples, but I kinda like digging through the basket to find one that works.

Everything else is organized into two Sterlite containers that I got at Hobby Lobby, but I'm sure you can find something similar at Target or Walmart. They each have three drawers, and I stack them on top of each other.

#1. What my "lippie tower" looks like. (I set my basket on top of it)
#2. What they would look like if you set them next to each other.
#3. The first drawer - this holds all my lip pencils, lip exfoliators, MAC Tender tones, MAC lip conditioners, and my MAC lip gelee.
#4. Second drawer - all my non MAC lip sticks - Mostly Urban Decay and Benefit.
#5. Third drawer - all my non MAC lip glosses - lots of Stila and Nars.
#6. Fourth drawer - all my misc MAC lippies - Dazzleglasses, Cremesheens, and Slim Shines.
#7. Fifth drawer - all my MAC lipsticks from the regular line and any Viva Glam ones.
#8. Sixth drawer - all my limited edition MAC lipsticks.

With this system, I feel like I finally have all my lippies organized in a way that I like - and I always know where everything is. Plus, the whole set up cost me less than $20 - you can't beat that. Hopefully this helps some of you who are stuck on how to organize your stash. Later junkies!!