Hey doll hey! How’s your day/night going? Great I hope. I’m doing well. My energy level is a bit low but my pain levels are back to a solid 5 for the first time in over 3 months! My hands still hurt and are difficult to work with due to my RA acting up so I’m using the talk to text software again… but at least I’m able to sit upright for now.
Well, today’s face of the day is episode 1 of my new Chop and Haul series, where I will use all the new items I hauled for the month prior and any items that I pulled from my collection that I haven’t used in a while, haven’t been able to get to work up until this point, can’t remember ever using or can’t remember what I thought about the product. These products will be on the chopping block for the full month as I try to get them to work, or get a spark of love for them. If neither of the 2 things happen, I’ll declutter them from my collection.
I will be doing a daily review (if the spoons permit) of the items that I’ve already used from either my hauled bin or my chopping block bin.
Each palette that I’ve set aside for this month’s chop and haul will be used to create 4 looks.
I did receive a purchase that I ordered, and should have received, in the month of February today… those items were also placed in the haul basket to use this month…. haul, swatch and first impression to come soon.
For today’s look I used the Blend Bunny Lure 24 Pan Palette ($46 for 0.81 oz / 2.3 g of total product making it 0.0338 oz / 0.96 g and $1.92 per shade)…. technically this palette was purchased and received in January but I was never able to use it due to being in flare.
I had my full eye done and then ended up having to remove it and start over… I was having a hard time getting the deepest shade to blend out, it was getting patchy and I didn’t want to have crappy makeup on all day since I hadn’t been able to doll myself up in a bit.
Since this is a face of the day, as well as a review, post… grab a drink, perhaps a snack and buckle in … it may be a bit longer than you are used to with my posts.
*remember as always, all hyperlinks provided are simply for fast location of the products used and not affiliate links… I just did the research so you didn’t have to. all swatched pictures are done on clean bare skin with no primer and in 1 pass to show the true pigmentation of the product*
Now.. onto today’s walk through and pictorial ….
With this last flare I did not keep up with my skincare routine… there will be texture… even if I did keep up with it there would still be texture… I’m 50 (and fabulous) and texture is bound to happen. Also… there will be hats…. lots of hats at least until Sunday. I have freshly washed and deep conditioned my hair in preparation for bleaching the roots on Saturday to redye my hair…. I can’t wash my hair again until I bleach it to help my hair keep some integrity.
Eyes and Brows:
To start I tested out the new i Sculpt, i Shade Brow Palette ($11 for 0.28 oz / 8 g of total product making it 0.07 oz, 2 g and $2.75 per shade) on my brows without setting them with Got 2 B Glue. I wanted to make sure I had a full idea of how this product works. I used the 1st shade of the 2nd row (the lighter of the 2 cool toned deep brow shades). I cleaned my brows (arch side) using Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($7.49 for 0.23 oz at Ulta) in the shade sand. I also cleaned the brows (brow bone side) and primed my whole eyelid space using the P.Louise Base ($13 for 0.5 fl oz on their website) in Rumour 0 (white).
Starting with the shade Jellyfish (pastel purple – matte) on a fluffy crease brush I defined the transition taking the color all the way up to the brow bone.
On a slightly more fluffy crease brush I used the shade Seductress (blue based purple – matte) to define the crease…. stopping just a little before the outer v of the crease.
Then using a bullet brush and the shade Tentacles (deep true purple – matte) I laid down my outer v color, I also created a slight wing over the outer 1/3 of the mobile lids.
I applied some shadow shields to keep for having any glitter fall out and using a large silicone applicator and NYX Long Lasting Glitter Primer ($6.50 for 0.22 fl oz at Ulta) I applied it to the inner 2/3 of the mobile lids. Then using a silicone pigment applicator I applied the shade Charmed (pink based lilac – metallic) to the inner 2/3, making sure most of the pigment is applied to the inner 1/3 and that the middle 1/3 gets considerably less pigment to avoid a harsh line of demarcation.
For the lower lashline I started with a fluffy pencil brush and more of the shade Seductress (blue based purple – matte) to create a small drop shadow, next I chose a firm pencil brush and the shade Tentacles (deep true purple – matte) to define the lashline and then I used a standard pencil brush and the shade Baited (pastel true pink – matte) to buff the full lower lashline out and making the drop shadow a bit deeper. Then to make sure the full under eye was blended to perfect I took a fluffy crease brush with nothing on it to buff the whole lashline. (now drink every time I say lashline 😉).
I lined my lower water lines using a deep magenta eyeliner from Colourpop (the shade name has rubbed off and this shade is no longer sold…. any bright deep pink will work here).
Complexion:
I primed my face using the Maybelline FaceStudio Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth Primer ($10.99 for 1 fl oz / 30 ml of product at Ulta) and then using the Makeup Forever Step 1 Primer Pore Minimizer ($39 for 1 fl oz / 30 ml of product at Sephora) for the cheeks and nose area. I tested out the Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Liquid Contour ($10.99 for 0.2 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Cocoa (deep brown) as contour today. I also tested out the KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm ($42.50 for 0.35 oz . / 10 g of product at Ulta and Sephora) in the shade Light 008 (fair skin with warm olive undertones). I tested out products for my cream bronzer, cream highlight and cream blush: the Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Liquid Contour ($10.99 for 0.2 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Ginger (warm taupe for light to medium) as the bronzer, Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Liquid Highlighter ($10.99 for 0.21 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Lunar (light champagne gold) and Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($23 for 0.25 fl oz / 7.5 ml of product at Sephora) in the shade Lucky (dewy hot pink). To correct the dark undereye circles I tested out the Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Undereye Brightener ($10.99 for 0.21 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Rose (brightening pink) as well as the Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Light Illuminating Smoothing Concealer ($26 for 0.16 fl oz / 5 ml of product at Ulta and Sephora) in the shade Vanilla Wafer (fair with golden undertones). I used the 1st shade of the 2nd row of the brow palette I used from above to contour my nose and then set my under eyes and sides of my nose using the Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Airbrush Flawless Finish Brightening Powder ($48 for 0.31 oz / 9 g of product at Sephora) in the shade fair/medium and the rest of my face using the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder ($36 for 0.98 oz / 28 g of product at Sephora) in the shade butter (fair/medium). I touched up the bronzer using Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer ($35 for 0.28 oz / 8 g of product at Ulta and Sephora), my blush using the shade Booty (midtone magenta – matte) from the same eyeshadow palette I used to create this look. ( yes… I did indeed use an eyeshadow for a blush… I have also been known to use a blush as an eyeshadow when. the mood strikes me), and my highlighter using Nabla Skin Glazing ($24 for 0.23 oz / 6.5 g of product at Ulta) in the shade Amnesia (golden champagne).
Lips, Lashes and Finishings:
I coated my upper lashes with 1 coat of Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara ($12.99 for 0.24 oz at Ulta) in the shade blackest black and the lower lashes in 2 coats of MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara ($26 for 0.19 oz of product at Ulta) in the shade intense black and then popped on a pair of Ardell Lash Faux Mink Wispies ($17.99 for a 4 pack at Ulta). For lipstick today I tested out the new KVD Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick ($23 for 0.23 fl oz / 7 ml of product at Ulta and Sephora) in the shade Scarlet Pearl (vibrant pink). I set my whole face using the LA Girl HD Pro Setting Finish Spray ($5.99 for 1 fl oz / 30 ml of product at Ulta).
Final Thoughts:
There is something so quietly stunning about a smokey purple eye. I just absolutely love this look… I should have paired it with a purple lip but I wanted the eye liner to really pop and the pink lip gave me that pop I needed.
So what products did I like, what products were problematic and what were my all around thoughts on today’s makeup? Let’s take a look, speed round style.
I’ve only used the purples in the Lure palette… I always start testing a new palette with the purple shades, #1 because it’s purple and #2 because purple is one of a few color pigments that can be tricky to formulate correctly so if the purples aren’t good, 8 out of 10 times I’m not going on get on well with the remaining shades… as was almost the case with this palette.
I give the purple row of this palette a solid A- : The reason is simple. I had to restart my eye look today because as you can see from the picture below the deepest shade Tentacles (deep true purple – matte) just would not settle down over the shade Seductress (blue based purple – matte). I tried patting it in place, I tried primer, I even tried primer glue… nothing worked. To give this shade the best possible chance I took a break and swatched it over and over on my arm to see what exactly was going on. Turned out Tentacles just doesn’t adhere well over a load of packed on color, and I had really packed Seductress on in the crease. I removed the eyelook and started a new, this time making sure to keep the transition shade above the crease and the crease shade away from the outer v of the crease and to slowly built the colors rather than going in with full on pigment and blending it out…. this seemed to do the trick well.
So for the 4 purple shades I give it an A- and a number score of 14.668 out of a possible 16.668 for this row.
I also used 2 of the 4 pink shades in today’s look. I would grade the shade Booty (midtone magenta – matte) at 4.167, it was pigmented and blended out on my cheeks like butter… this is how I test a shadow when I’ve run out of lid space for it… and the shade Baited (pastel true pink – matte) at 2.5 points, it’s pretty but really chalky and there was a bit of fall out and a ton of kick back with this shade.
So far the Lure palette gets a solid score of 21.335 out of 100%…. 3 more days to test this one out… I may have to add 1 more look so that I can test out the full palette… but so far I am hopeful.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($23 for 0.25 fl oz / 7.5 ml of product at Sephora) in the shade Lucky (dewy hot pink).
I knew I would love the formula… I was just always afraid of this shade…. DAMN IT where has this one been all my life. It’s a very pretty in from the cold style pink that leaves the cheeks super winter cold kissed. It did not lift the products I had under it, it stayed in place all day and I didn’t lose pigmentation when I powdered my face. I give this one a solid O+++!!!. * Welcome to my blush drawer, little one…. I’m looking forward to using you in the future. *
Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Undereye Brightener ($10.99 for 0.21 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Rose (brightening pink).
I used a very little amount of this product to see how well this product does… it did not disappoint. Is it hands down the best corrector I’ve ever tried, no…. but it did a decent job and at this price point it’s a solid buy. I didn’t notice any creasing with this one. I would give it a solid O. It didn’t wow me so I just wont grade it higher than that, however it’s graded high enough to make it into my collection.
KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm ($42.50 for 0.35 oz . / 10 g of product at Ulta and Sephora) in the shade Light 008 (fair skin with warm olive undertones).
I give this foundation a solid O+++! This is a beautiful foundation with an amazing finish. My face did not look like I was wearing foundation the entire day…. I didn’t see breakthrough until around the 8 1/2 hour mark… and I did not start to get shiny (something I really do) until around the 12 hour mark. The only thing that would have made this one perfect would have been were I not to have to set it with loose powder. With that said, I am so excited this one is part of my collection. the shade is a spot on match, the way it wore was perfection… it’s a keeper.
Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Liquid Contour ($10.99 for 0.2 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Cocoa (deep brown).
I give this contour wand a solid B+++. It is the perfect shade, the application was seamless and really perfectly sculpted, however pigmentation was lost. I under-paint my contour so I need it to stand up to foundation application… with the KVD foundation it sort of just disappeared and I had to apply a tad more over the foundation, not something I need to do with my other foundations. A grade suitable for my collection, it is just not my favorite.
Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Liquid Contour ($10.99 for 0.2 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Ginger (warm taupe for light to medium).
I give this wand a solid O+++ The tone is stunning as a fresh faced bronzer but just a tad to orange as a glam bronzer. The application was seamless and did not disrupt the products under it. When I powdered I did not lose pigmentation of it. Pretty good product. It’s a keeper.
Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Light Illuminating Smoothing Concealer ($26 for 0.16 fl oz / 5 ml of product at Ulta and Sephora) in the shade Vanilla Wafer (fair with golden undertones).
I give this concealer a solid O+++!!! and just about anything it wants for it to stay with me!!! This concealer is stunning!!! It’s creamy, light medium coverage, and left the undereye looking natural. It did not crease at all within a 12 hour wear test. So in love. This is a keeper.
Milani Conceal & Perfect Face Lift Collection Liquid Highlighter ($10.99 for 0.21 fl oz / 8 ml of product at Ulta) in the shade Lunar (light champagne gold).
I give this highlighter a solid A+. There isn’t anything special about this one, it’s like the countless champagne cream highlighters I already own. It dries down completely and doesn’t look overpowering. It’s nice, I’m glad to have it to try but it isn’t a holy grail, must always have product, however it is still a keeper…not sure if it will ever be a repurchase though.
Nabla Skin Glazing ($24 for 0.23 oz / 6.5 g of product at Ulta) in the shade Amnesia (golden champagne).
No surprises here… this one gets a solid O+++!!! She is just as stunning as the one I already have from this brand and formula. 10/10 recommend and definitely keeping.
KVD Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick ($23 for 0.23 fl oz / 7 ml of product at Ulta and Sephora) in the shade Scarlet Pearl (vibrant pink).
What can I say about this lippie? It’s comfy, it’s longwearing, there is no feathering, pilling up or cracking. It’s no budge transferproof and the shade range is amazing. O+++!!!.
Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Airbrush Flawless Finish Brightening Powder ($48 for 0.31 oz / 9 g of product at Sephora) in the shade fair/medium.
I give this powder a solid A and a bit of a snarky side eye. This one made so many promises and didn’t do anything other than set the products down budge proof. It didn’t brighten the under eyes it didn’t blur the under eyes…. all it did was set the concealer all day. I’ll keep it as part of my collection but will not be repurchasing this one… not when I can do the same thing with the RCMA no color powder for a 1/3 of the cost and with much more product.
i Sculpt, i Shade Brow Palette ($11 for 0.28 oz / 8 g of total product making it 0.07 oz, 2 g and $2.75 per shade).
I give this brow palette a solid O- . The pigmentation is there, the color range is there and it is truly a multi function palette. I used it today to contour and do my brows and also tested it as a bronzer last night before bed… the only reason it doesn’t get a higher grade is because this one totes being budge proof yet I needed to touch up the brows after I was done with my complexion products. I truly liked it and I’m happy to have it in my collection.
So out of all the products tested today… zero will be decluttered… Round one… all contestants lived…
Well, thanks for hanging out with me… if you made it all the way to the end…. you are a ROCK STAR and I thank you a million times over. If you didn’t it’s ok… you’re still awesome and I love ya for stopping by,
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day/night and that you are in great spirits and health.
Save a spoon for a bit of lipstick….
A Spoonie's Makeup Bag 