Disclaimer: All products listed were purchased by me or came from a subscription box that I pay for. All opinions mentioned below are my own honest opinions.
This was a bit of a fail since few of the products got used up and some have barely a dent made. I'm going to decide which to carry over into the next project pan and which to take a break on. There was a lot learned from this project pan. I learned not to put multiples of the same type of product in the same project pan. I think I would have made a better dent in the shadows and the remaining lip products had they not been competing. It also reinforced what I have known for a longtime about my makeup collection and purchases, which is that I tend to buy very similar shades and that they end up not getting finished because they are competing. My lip collection is full of mauves and my eyeshadow collection has so many neutrals that I can probably dupe each shade at least 3 times. It also was not the best idea to do a project pan during a time when I went on a long vacation. Around Labor Day I went on a beach vacation that lasted nearly two weeks. I didn't wear much if any makeup at the beach andI just haven't been wearing much makeup the past few weeks.Eventually i will try and update with pictures but I wanted to finally post this since Halloween is long over.
1. Cover Girl Foundation
This is used up. It was nearly finished when I started the project pan but I think I needed to put it in the project pan just to get it gone since I like my Milani foundation better.
2. Maybelline concealer
This has significant progress. It is not my favorite concealer and I won't repurchase it but it is not the worst.
3. Maybelline Baby Lips
This is gone. I'm not sure if this one is still available. I liked it but I don't think I would get it again even if they still make it.
4. IT Cosmetics Blurred Lines lipstick in Love
Did not get to use up as much of this as I had hoped. But I think I will use it up before the end of the year. I would not repurchase this because IMO it is overpriced for the staying power and I can easily dupe it within my collection.
5. IT Cosmetics brow
Slight progress on this product but it is slow going in part because I have not been doing full makeup or makeup at all some days.
6. Nars Orgasm blush
There is some progress on this blush and a little bit broke off. I'm trying to decide whether or not to break it up and repress it. I have not repressed many things and the results are mixed when I do it, so we will see.
7. ColourPop Supermodel
Very little progress on this shade. I knew that the shadows were ambitious choice for this project but I wanted a challenge.
8. ColourPop Plunge
More progress on this shadow than Supermodel but it was always going to be a challenge to use it up by Halloween.
9. Milani Multitasker Powder
I had hoped to have more of this gone but there is still a decent amount left. Due to the shade, I won't be able to wear it for much longer because it is too dark for me to wear from late fall to early spring.
10. Buxom lip polish in Erica
Not a ton of progress on this one. But because it is a mini and I like it with a lipstick that came in my Ipsy a few months ago, it might potentially be finished during my next project pan.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
More products I no longer purchase
Disclaimer: All products listed were purchased by me or came from a
subscription box that I pay for. All opinions mentioned below are my own
honest opinions.
Something I will never purchase again is anything that is sold by a multi-level marketing (MLM) company. I once had a few makeup products that came from MLMs like Avon eyeshadow pencils and the Maskcara IIID Foundation. In the case of Avon I knew it was a MLM at the time of purchase, MaskCara became a MLM about six months after my purchase. While I personally have never joined a MLM, I have known people who did and have become increasingly concerned about how they prey on women and minorities, by selling them on the idea of getting rich quickly. I dislike the MLM business model that is full gaslighting, impossible goals, bizarre selling methods, body shaming, and mom shaming. A true business would not encourage people to harass their friends and family for sales or recruitment. Unless you get in at the beginning, you will likely lose money by joining an MLM. Joining a MLM can deplete your bank account, put you debt, and ruin your relationships. The MLM line is that if you failed then you just did not work hard enough. But the problem with this claim is that many MLM consultants work well over 40+ hours a week and do not even make minimum wage to do so. They have to plan parties wither online or in person, demo the product, and depending on which MLM they belong to, they are responsible for mailing it to anyone who buys the product. Some MLMs try to trick people by only having you buy an introduction kit and all sales are fulfilled by warehouses. However, frequently consultants end up buying more so they can have the latest releases and limited edition products. MLMs thrive on new people signing up and buying product even if they don't need it or do not have anyone willing to buy the product.The bottom line is that joining a MLM is unlikely to be profitable for you.
Something I will never purchase again is anything that is sold by a multi-level marketing (MLM) company. I once had a few makeup products that came from MLMs like Avon eyeshadow pencils and the Maskcara IIID Foundation. In the case of Avon I knew it was a MLM at the time of purchase, MaskCara became a MLM about six months after my purchase. While I personally have never joined a MLM, I have known people who did and have become increasingly concerned about how they prey on women and minorities, by selling them on the idea of getting rich quickly. I dislike the MLM business model that is full gaslighting, impossible goals, bizarre selling methods, body shaming, and mom shaming. A true business would not encourage people to harass their friends and family for sales or recruitment. Unless you get in at the beginning, you will likely lose money by joining an MLM. Joining a MLM can deplete your bank account, put you debt, and ruin your relationships. The MLM line is that if you failed then you just did not work hard enough. But the problem with this claim is that many MLM consultants work well over 40+ hours a week and do not even make minimum wage to do so. They have to plan parties wither online or in person, demo the product, and depending on which MLM they belong to, they are responsible for mailing it to anyone who buys the product. Some MLMs try to trick people by only having you buy an introduction kit and all sales are fulfilled by warehouses. However, frequently consultants end up buying more so they can have the latest releases and limited edition products. MLMs thrive on new people signing up and buying product even if they don't need it or do not have anyone willing to buy the product.The bottom line is that joining a MLM is unlikely to be profitable for you.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
My palette buying method
I have a lot of palettes. There are so many in my collection that I would need to go and count them. Now some of them are nearly finished and about to be tossed but since they are still in my collection, they still count. To reduce the number of new palettes I buy, I created a system of helping to determine how much use a potential new palette would get and whether it is too similar to something I already own. Going through these steps prevented me from buying several palettes that are things I would wear but similar to what I own. I avoided buying the Anastasia Subculture, Prism, Soft Glam, and Norvina palettes by applying this system. And I also did not buy the Too Faced White Chocolate Bar, White Chocolate Chip, or White Peach palette.
1. At first glace is the palette something I see myself using. If yes, then I move on to the next step.
This seems like an obvious one but it is easy to be dazzled by shades that you would never use in reality.
2. Will I use over 80% or more of the shadows in the palette?
I'm not going to buy a palette for only a few shades because I know that I will rarely pick it up. A palette is only worth it if the bulk of it will get worn, IMO.
3. Are the shades I'm drawn to in the palette similar to something I already own?
Cover up the shades in the palette you are interested in wearing, then look at the rest of the palette. Are the rest of the shades similar to something you have? Are the shades you are drawn to similar to something else you own and love?
4. How positive are reviews about the product?
No point in buying something if the quality is nonexistent. Reviews that talk about staying power, pigment, how well it blends, and how evenly it applies are among the most helpful. I also like if a review says whether or not they used primer. I can't stand when someone complains about creasing but doesn't use primer.
1. At first glace is the palette something I see myself using. If yes, then I move on to the next step.
This seems like an obvious one but it is easy to be dazzled by shades that you would never use in reality.
2. Will I use over 80% or more of the shadows in the palette?
I'm not going to buy a palette for only a few shades because I know that I will rarely pick it up. A palette is only worth it if the bulk of it will get worn, IMO.
3. Are the shades I'm drawn to in the palette similar to something I already own?
Cover up the shades in the palette you are interested in wearing, then look at the rest of the palette. Are the rest of the shades similar to something you have? Are the shades you are drawn to similar to something else you own and love?
4. How positive are reviews about the product?
No point in buying something if the quality is nonexistent. Reviews that talk about staying power, pigment, how well it blends, and how evenly it applies are among the most helpful. I also like if a review says whether or not they used primer. I can't stand when someone complains about creasing but doesn't use primer.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Anti-haul for August 2018
It is August so there are a bunch of new products coming out. But so many of them are boring, brands are releasing products like crazy and it is getting tired. I miss when a brand would release one new palette a year. Now they all feel they have to release around five if not more each year.
1. ColourPop KathleenLights collection
I don't like Kathleen at all. I always thought she was annoying and then she showed her prejudice to the world but got away with it. The collection is also just boring. The palette looks very similar to the Perception palette that came out earlier this year as part of ColourPop's collaboration with Makeup Shayla. Not only is ColourPop churning out redundant releases, their continued support of Kathleen is a turnoff.
2. Anastasia Norvina palette
Purple eyeshadow is really not my thing but along with that, after you cover up the few purple shades in the palette, it just looks like a typical neutral palette.
3. KKW Beauty Classic palette
I'll never buy anything from the Kardashian or Jenner beauty lines. They are overpriced and I despise the members of that family. This palette is just boring. If you have neutral eyeshadow palettes, then you probably have at least one dupe of each shade. If you own the ColourPop Double Entendre palette, you already have this palette, since both ColourPop and KKW are under Seed Beauty.
4. Dominique Latte palette
Another neutral palette full of shades I already own dupes of, plus a pop of color that I have dupes of.
5. Beauty Blender foundation
They released 32 shades and still couldn't get it right. I have a light-medium to medium skin tone depending on the season and I'm questioning whether I can find a shade match with the right undertones. It is not as bad as the Tarte shape tape foundation launch but it doesn't seem like they sought out any input from people with medium, tan, and deep skin tones. Beauty brands can do better than this nonsense.
6. Too faced 20th Anniversary palette
This palette is not doing anything for me. I have several palettes from Too Faced and there are probably dupes of the shades I would have used from this palette.
7. Natasha Denona Camel palette
These are just more basic colors. If I'm going to spend the money for Natasha Denona I want more than what this palette offers.
8. ColourPop foundation
I find it upsetting that ColourPop came out with a foundation that is not only $12 but also only 25 mls or 0.85 ounces. I could probably look past the price if the foundation at least had the standard 30mls or 1 ounce. Foundation having 1 ounce has been the standard for a long time but slowly some brands are starting to reduce the amount you are getting while keeping the price high. As a consumer, this is not something I support. The companies are already making so much money by releasing all these products that are just remixes of former releases. There is no reason for the reduced amount other than greed. The line has to be drawn somewhere.
1. ColourPop KathleenLights collection
I don't like Kathleen at all. I always thought she was annoying and then she showed her prejudice to the world but got away with it. The collection is also just boring. The palette looks very similar to the Perception palette that came out earlier this year as part of ColourPop's collaboration with Makeup Shayla. Not only is ColourPop churning out redundant releases, their continued support of Kathleen is a turnoff.
2. Anastasia Norvina palette
Purple eyeshadow is really not my thing but along with that, after you cover up the few purple shades in the palette, it just looks like a typical neutral palette.
3. KKW Beauty Classic palette
I'll never buy anything from the Kardashian or Jenner beauty lines. They are overpriced and I despise the members of that family. This palette is just boring. If you have neutral eyeshadow palettes, then you probably have at least one dupe of each shade. If you own the ColourPop Double Entendre palette, you already have this palette, since both ColourPop and KKW are under Seed Beauty.
4. Dominique Latte palette
Another neutral palette full of shades I already own dupes of, plus a pop of color that I have dupes of.
5. Beauty Blender foundation
They released 32 shades and still couldn't get it right. I have a light-medium to medium skin tone depending on the season and I'm questioning whether I can find a shade match with the right undertones. It is not as bad as the Tarte shape tape foundation launch but it doesn't seem like they sought out any input from people with medium, tan, and deep skin tones. Beauty brands can do better than this nonsense.
6. Too faced 20th Anniversary palette
This palette is not doing anything for me. I have several palettes from Too Faced and there are probably dupes of the shades I would have used from this palette.
7. Natasha Denona Camel palette
These are just more basic colors. If I'm going to spend the money for Natasha Denona I want more than what this palette offers.
8. ColourPop foundation
I find it upsetting that ColourPop came out with a foundation that is not only $12 but also only 25 mls or 0.85 ounces. I could probably look past the price if the foundation at least had the standard 30mls or 1 ounce. Foundation having 1 ounce has been the standard for a long time but slowly some brands are starting to reduce the amount you are getting while keeping the price high. As a consumer, this is not something I support. The companies are already making so much money by releasing all these products that are just remixes of former releases. There is no reason for the reduced amount other than greed. The line has to be drawn somewhere.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Makeup products I no longer purchase
Having a large makeup collection has allowed me to know what I use on a regular basis and what I never take out of the drawer. As a result I have learned how to shop smarter when it comes to beauty products.
1. Lip Palettes
I had a few lips palettes in the past and they are just not practical for me. In general, I prefer my lip stuff to be portable and it is not convenient to be carrying around a lip palette and lip brush when on the go.
2. Lip crayons that need a sharpener
I don't see these as much anymore now that the lip crayon trend has slowed down. But I had one from Urban Decay and Nars that both needed to be sharpened. This is just annoying for anything that you want to be able to toss in your purse.
3. Blush palettes
The value is questionable with blush palettes, IMO. Some brands seem to alter their normal blush formula in order to not lose money on what initially seems like a good value. The ones I had, I rarely used and I actually ended up depotting the one Benefit blush palette I had into a Z-palette because the original packaging was so bulky and difficult to deal with.
4. Most YouTube makeup collaborations or YouTuber fronted/owned brands
I'm over most collaborations at this point. So many of them look the same and are just another neutral palette with a pop of color. I love neutral eyeshadows and most palettes I have are neutral. That is why I am less willing buy another one that looks like a copy of what I already own. I think I would have to be huge fan of the person to even consider buying the product.
The same goes with most brands that are either owned or fronted by YouTubers. Laura Lee's Nudie Patootie palette was so boring, IMO. If you have been buying eyeshadow palettes for the past few years, then you probably have these colors and might even have a whole palette that is a full-on dupe. And don't get me started on Tati's beauty vitamins. Nearly $480 a year for vitamins if you taken them as she suggested. And that cost is without factoring in taxes and shipping costs. At best you are going to get placebo effect and at worse some of the ingredients could be harmful to you depending on your personal health situation. No thanks.
5. Poorly planned products
Several brands release products that look beautiful but are not user friendly. Examples of this are the Hourglass eye palettes and the Wet n Wild Zodiac eye palettes. Both have the shadows together with no separation between colors. This way of presenting shadows makes it nearly impossible to use them without getting fallout from the darker shades into the lighter ones.
1. Lip Palettes
I had a few lips palettes in the past and they are just not practical for me. In general, I prefer my lip stuff to be portable and it is not convenient to be carrying around a lip palette and lip brush when on the go.
2. Lip crayons that need a sharpener
I don't see these as much anymore now that the lip crayon trend has slowed down. But I had one from Urban Decay and Nars that both needed to be sharpened. This is just annoying for anything that you want to be able to toss in your purse.
3. Blush palettes
The value is questionable with blush palettes, IMO. Some brands seem to alter their normal blush formula in order to not lose money on what initially seems like a good value. The ones I had, I rarely used and I actually ended up depotting the one Benefit blush palette I had into a Z-palette because the original packaging was so bulky and difficult to deal with.
4. Most YouTube makeup collaborations or YouTuber fronted/owned brands
I'm over most collaborations at this point. So many of them look the same and are just another neutral palette with a pop of color. I love neutral eyeshadows and most palettes I have are neutral. That is why I am less willing buy another one that looks like a copy of what I already own. I think I would have to be huge fan of the person to even consider buying the product.
The same goes with most brands that are either owned or fronted by YouTubers. Laura Lee's Nudie Patootie palette was so boring, IMO. If you have been buying eyeshadow palettes for the past few years, then you probably have these colors and might even have a whole palette that is a full-on dupe. And don't get me started on Tati's beauty vitamins. Nearly $480 a year for vitamins if you taken them as she suggested. And that cost is without factoring in taxes and shipping costs. At best you are going to get placebo effect and at worse some of the ingredients could be harmful to you depending on your personal health situation. No thanks.
5. Poorly planned products
Several brands release products that look beautiful but are not user friendly. Examples of this are the Hourglass eye palettes and the Wet n Wild Zodiac eye palettes. Both have the shadows together with no separation between colors. This way of presenting shadows makes it nearly impossible to use them without getting fallout from the darker shades into the lighter ones.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Current Project Pan
Disclaimer: All products purchased by me.
A few days ago I decided that I should put together a project pan and try to finish the above products by the end of October. Most of these are products that I enjoy but I also want to use them up so I can move on to other things in my sizable makeup collection. Excuse the crappy lighting, I took these pictures late in the day.
1. ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Supermodel
This is a beautiful shade but it is one that I've had the longest and I want to use it up before it dries out. I'm also falling out of love with ColourPop in general. After they failed to respond to a message I sent them, I doubt I will be buying anything from them for a long time.
2. ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Plunge
Same with Supermodel, I love the shade but I want it to be used up before it dries out.
3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in Neutralizer
This is just ok. I don't think it does anything significant to help cover dark circles. I would not repurchase.
4. Buxom mini Lip Polish in Erica
Pretty shade but it works best as a topper and it is not my favorite.
5. Maybelline Baby Lips in Blush
I've used this quite a lot and since it is almost done I decided it should go in this project pan.
6. IT Cosmetics Blurred Lines lipstick in Love
I love this shade and the formula is nice but it is overpriced IMO. The name of the lipstick line is also awful and reminds me of that creepy song. I also have several in a similar shade because I will buy every MLBB shade around apparently. This one is nearly gone so I might as well finish it and then be able to use some others.
7. Nars Orgasm blush mini
This came in a GWP from Sephora. There is a decent amount of pan showing, making it an easy choice for this project pan. It is also great to use on days when I'm rushing because it has a nice glow and lets me skip highlighting my cheeks.
8. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation in Warm Beige
This foundation is almost gone and I'm not sure if I would buy it again. It is a good basic foundation but the pump stops working well when you have about 1/3 to 1/4 of the bottle left.
9. Milani Multitasker Powder in Light Tan
I love this product, I have gone through several in both this shade and Medium shade. But it may be getting discontinued. I'm not seeing it in stores but it is still on the website. And Milani has another powder out that some reviews seem to feel might be this one but repackaged.
10. IT Cosmetics brow power
Excellent brow pencil but I received this in an Ipsy bag forever ago and I want to use it up. It lasts a long time if you are like me and only do a simple fill in for your brows.
A few days ago I decided that I should put together a project pan and try to finish the above products by the end of October. Most of these are products that I enjoy but I also want to use them up so I can move on to other things in my sizable makeup collection. Excuse the crappy lighting, I took these pictures late in the day.
1. ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Supermodel
This is a beautiful shade but it is one that I've had the longest and I want to use it up before it dries out. I'm also falling out of love with ColourPop in general. After they failed to respond to a message I sent them, I doubt I will be buying anything from them for a long time.
2. ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Plunge
Same with Supermodel, I love the shade but I want it to be used up before it dries out.
3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in Neutralizer
This is just ok. I don't think it does anything significant to help cover dark circles. I would not repurchase.
4. Buxom mini Lip Polish in Erica
Pretty shade but it works best as a topper and it is not my favorite.
5. Maybelline Baby Lips in Blush
I've used this quite a lot and since it is almost done I decided it should go in this project pan.
6. IT Cosmetics Blurred Lines lipstick in Love
I love this shade and the formula is nice but it is overpriced IMO. The name of the lipstick line is also awful and reminds me of that creepy song. I also have several in a similar shade because I will buy every MLBB shade around apparently. This one is nearly gone so I might as well finish it and then be able to use some others.
7. Nars Orgasm blush mini
This came in a GWP from Sephora. There is a decent amount of pan showing, making it an easy choice for this project pan. It is also great to use on days when I'm rushing because it has a nice glow and lets me skip highlighting my cheeks.
8. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation in Warm Beige
This foundation is almost gone and I'm not sure if I would buy it again. It is a good basic foundation but the pump stops working well when you have about 1/3 to 1/4 of the bottle left.
9. Milani Multitasker Powder in Light Tan
I love this product, I have gone through several in both this shade and Medium shade. But it may be getting discontinued. I'm not seeing it in stores but it is still on the website. And Milani has another powder out that some reviews seem to feel might be this one but repackaged.
10. IT Cosmetics brow power
Excellent brow pencil but I received this in an Ipsy bag forever ago and I want to use it up. It lasts a long time if you are like me and only do a simple fill in for your brows.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Nearly five years pass
I meant to start writing blog posts. And then life intervened. A lot of stuff happened and I just didn't have time or the desire to make time to blog. But I recently bought a ton of makeup and while reorganizing my collection I discovered I have way more stuff than I ever thought I would own. So I decided to blog about panning, decluttering, and probably the occasional haul.
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