Palette Obsession: Mally Beauty & Urban Decay

So I had good intentions to get this up earlier in the month. So this is going to be another combo post of sorts. I had decided that the palettes I have from Mally Beaity and the Urban Decay Naked palettes were next on my list.

In going through my stash I said let's get real about the Urban Decay Naked palettes. Now if you've been following me along I have mentioned these palettes off and on. They have been favorites. I've traveled with them. I've recommended them. But when I thought about it, I hadn't really used  them in a while with the exception of the Naked Heat palette since it's the latest palette. Then I started going though what I have an comparing it to the Naked palettes. I had the Naked 3 palette sitting in my basket to use and I did not reach for it. I would look at it everyday, say nope and grab something else. I'm not saying that they are bad palette or that you shouldn't buy one. They're just not my thing anymore and that's OK. I currently have them set aside with some other makeup I'm going to give away.

I had the same initial feeling about the Mally palettes I have and was ready to get rid of them too. When I took a look at them, I liked what I saw and said ok I can do a look with this or use this shade with an eyeshadow stick. Once I started using them I was reminded how much I enjoy Mally's eyeshadows. They're pigmented, easy to blend and have good staying power on my oily lids. One may turn up in my next favorites post. I'm just saying. Since I have five palettes, I'll keep messing around with them in March.

I nicked a couple of shadows trying to take this pic grrrr lol! I didn't show the Naked palettes because I'm sure you've seen then a bunch of times.

On to the next post!

Palette Obsession: Urban Decay Smoked Palette

My obsession with eyeshadow palettes is real and I must get a handle on it LOL! There is on Tarte palette that has been on my wishlist for a while now that I probably will pick up. Any other "new" palettes I am seriously going to look in my stash and compare it to what I already have.

The Urban Decay Smoked palette is a past favorite.  I used to use this ALL the time! I've traveled with this palette. It was once an instant go to. I couldn't tell you the last time I reached for it. So I pulled it out today and did a look with Barlust and Backdoor. I loved how the look came out. I love the jeweled tones Rockstar, Evidence and Loaded. I wish had  medium brown or caramel shade bit's not like I don't have those shades in other palettes or single shadows. This in the main palette I'll play around with for the month. We'll see if it says it my stash.

Do you own this one? Do you love it? Is it a must have in a makeup collection? Let's discuss!

Operation Nail Polsih Clean Out is a GO!

I was debating on whether or not I'd get a shop my stash post up for January. Then I said ok pick a few items and go from there. I started reaching for nail polishes but I started reaching for a lot questionable shades. Next I said ok let's do this from a let's clear stuff out standpoint. So now operation clear out nail polish stash is in effect! My nail polish collection has really been on my mind lately. So I filled up this basket with various nail polishes from Milani (old school Milani polishes and newer Color Statement ones) and OPI. There's also a random polish from Covergirl and one from Glisten & Glow. So obviously more nail posts will come be on the way. So yay!

My "goal" I guess is to fit my entire nail polish stash (including base coats, top coats, other nail care items, etc)into the Better Beauty Case I got from HSN. It's the XL size. Right now it's way too heavy I think the stitching my come undone at the handles. I don't have a magic number in mind. I just would like a nice curated nail polish collection instead of  crap ton of nail polish. I'd hate to just toss them but I've given enough away to family and friends but we'll see what I do. I have a feeling that this is going the be hard but it will be done! It is time! I hope this all makes sense.

Let's get to it!

November/December 2017 Shop My Stash

Hey. Hey there. How ya doin?

I'm coming off a recent work trip, had a ton of laundry to do, just basically getting back to real life. Plus Daylight Savings Time has been a real downer. It's dark at like 5 o'clock and I don't want to jack! So I'm trying to shake the funk off.

Since we're heading into mid-November (yikes!) and into the holiday season, I am going to combine my play post for November and December.

So here we go!

Shadow Play

I picked up two new palettes from Ulta. I got the Persona Cosmetics Identity Palette and the tarte Tartlette Toast palette. I've done a few looks with the Identity palette already and I'm really enjoying it. I think it will be fantastic for travel. I also wanted to play around with some Bare Minerals eyeshadows. I was moved to grab the Women of B.E. Collection. If you'v been with me a while then you know this is an oldie but goody from QVC!

Polish Play

For nail polish, I grabbed a bunch of Zoya nail polishes along with two reds from OPI. I also need to find my Sephora by OPI polish in Good Tidings We Bling. That's a staple every holiday season! It's the perfect red and green glitter nail polish that I pretty much talk about every year. Every now and then Sephora has brought it back for the holidays. If you see it, grab it!

Zoya Emilia, Kelly, Nimue. Ibiza, Neve

Zoya Storm, Marjorie, Finley, Merida, Aurora, Dream

OPI Big Apple Red, Amore at the Grand Canal

Fragrance Play

For fragrance, Lancome is on deck! I have three Lancome fragrances. La Vie Est Belle, Tresor and La Nuit Tresor.

And a bonus item...

I picked up the tarte Blush Bliss palette from Ulta when it was on sale. I think this will be a good travel blush palette. I purged all of my Tarte blushes from my stash and now I kinda regret it. I saw this and said why not. Sephora has a larger blush palette that's part of tarte holiday collection. I'm tempted to get it during the VIB sale or when they do the $20 off $50 offer.

I think this a good mix of item to take me through the end of the year. As always, thanks for following me along. Especially since I haven't been a consistent as I would have liked this year. We'll see what holds for 2018.

Next up will be my October Top 5 post. Stay tuned!

September/October 2017 Shop My Stash

Since it's already September is just about over *head palm*, I'm going to combine September and October. I'll also mention what I've been reaching using for the most part for September so far.

I had been thinking about what I wanted to play around with since towards the end of August for the month of September. Toyed around with a few things but nothing stuck with me. The main thing I wanted to start doing this month is tackle my nail polishes. I've gone through my makeup quite a few times but hadn't really touched my nail polishes. For eyes I randomly reached for two past MAC favorites and I did pick up the Butter London palette I mention in my Denver Top 5 post. For fragrance I have one that I want to try to use up this month if possible.

So here we go!

Shadow Play

I picked up the  Butter London + Pantone Color of the Year Eyeshadow palette on sale from Ulta. I have not used it yet. So we shall see if I like it or now. I've also pulled out my two MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadows that are past favorites (Havana and Rich Core). I also pulled out my tarte Tarlette palette. Trying to decided if I'm going to pick up the Tarte in Bloom palette and I wanted to see how it compare to the new all matte Milani eyeshadow palette that recently came out. Then there's supposed to another tarte palette I think it's called Toast due out. I've seen sneak peeks on Instagram and it's pretty. I've also be on a Mally eyeshadow stick quick. They're nice to pair with powder shadows but they are so awesome on their own. My Juvia's place palettes may make an appearance as well.

Polish Play

I was going to tackle my nail polishes by brand. I was going to start with Essie and I did take a bunch of Essie nail polishes out. I've worn three and now I'm like meh. This basket has all my Essie nail polished and most of my OPI nail polishes. The above picture is an old picture of the basket. I've had it for a while now and it's coming apart. This is what started my whole "let's go through my nail polishes and get rid of some". So for now I'm just going to randomly reach in here and pick nail polishes to use to see if they are keepers.

Fragrance Play

I have some Bath and Body Works scents that I want to try and use up (Beautiful Day, Amber Blush and Be Joyful) along with philosophy's Amazing Grace Whipped Body Creme and Spray Fragrance.

Kinda boring *shrugs*.

For 2018, I'm thinking about switching this post to towards the end of the month and talking about what I actually reach for during the month. I think that may be better since I'm losing steam on picking out select items and using them for the month. We shall see.

Next up should be my Top 5 for September!

Shop My Stash Summer 2017 Edition!

Welcome to the Summer edition of Shop My Stash!

I'm kind of getting bored with these posts. They do help me go through what I have and rotate out my items. But then I'm like ok ok ok what are you using because you need to get this post up! That's not fun for me. Also sometimes I don't actually reach for the items I pull. For the most part I do but sometimes I end up reaching for other things. Plus life is in progress. I have another work trip coming up, house stuff to do, blah, blah blah! You know adulting. So I decided to pick out a bunch of items to use for June, July and August.

So here's what I playing around with this summer!

Shadow Play

Naked 1, 2 & 3

Vice Ltd.

I feel like I haven't shown my OG Urban Decay Naked Palettes any love in while. So Naked 1, 2 and 3 will be in the rotation for the summer. Have you heard that there's a new Naked palette coming out!!?!? It's called Naked Heat and it warm toned palette! *twirls* I also picked up the Vice Ltd palette via a blog sale. So I'll throw that in for some color.

Polish Play

First Row: Tiana, Cindy, Bar, Cece, Merida
Second Row: Zooey, Brita, Aurora, Finley, Dream

Ivy League, Twisted Pink, Violet Voltage, Lacey Lilac, The Real Teal, Pacific Blue 

With nail polishes for the summmer, I said ok I'm going to grab some Zoya nail polishes and be done. Then Sally Hansen popped in my head. Then I ended up with a whole heap of nail polishes.

Fragrance Play

I already knew that I wanted to play around with philosophy's summer scents for summer time!. It's only fitting right? I will be playing around with Summer Grace, Falling Love Summer and Sea of Love. I have the spray fragrances for Summer Grace and Falling in Love Summer. I'm debating if I want to pick up the Sea of Love spray fragrance. I'm also going to throw Wen's Summer Mango Coconut into the mix to get my coconut fix.

I will still do my Top 5 posts for June, July and August. I'm sure some other random posts will pop in my head to do.

So see you in September for another Shop My Stash post!!

May 2017 Shop My Stash

Hellllooooooo!

Long tine no see! I am back from my work trip and I have some posts to catch up on don't I? Plus I have a bonus post of sorts that popped in my head while I was away. But first, here's what I'm playing around with for May.

Shadow Play

I went back and for on what eyeshadows or palettes to play around with and I drew a serious blank! Then I said let me play around with some single eyeshadows. These are mainly from Makeup Geek. I have a couple of eyeshadows from Anastasia and one from Obsidian that I think came in a Allure Box. I recently purchased some magnetic palettes from tarte that are very nice. Trying to decide if I want to purchase some more eyeshadows to fill this palette up. I have my eye on single eyeshadows from Juvia's Place.

Polish Play

Butter London nail polishes are on deck for May. I traveled with some of these and I was annoyed by the fact that there was some serious chipping going on. I'm thinking it's the base and/or top coat I was using. I've used these polishes in the past and never had chipping issues. So I'm going to pay close attention to chipping while using my regular top and base coats. If the chipping is still an issue then these are going in the trash.

Teetotal, Sprog, Wallis, Brown Sugar

Pistol Pink, All Hail The Queen, Lovely Jubbly

Fragrance Play

Drew another blank here on what fragrance to use. Then I decided on philosophy's Falling in Love.

Phew! Annnnnnd go!

February 2017 Shop My Stash

Hello February! I really didn't know what I wanted to play around with for the month. But then I got some new stuff and rediscovered some nail polishes. So here's what I picked out.

Eyeshadow Play (and a bonus cheek palette)

I had no clue on what eyeshadows I wanted to play around with for the month. I thought about playing around with my Milani single eyeshadows. Then I debated between a couple of palettes. My makeup play is still limited so I've been kind of uninspired. I've placed some orders and I have some newness which includes 3 palettes! *twirls*  I ordered the Mally Eyes on You 4-Piece Collection from QVC and the set included the Ageless Eyes vol 2 palette. This palette kind of reminds me of the LORAC Mega Pro 3 palette. From Ulta I ordered the Perfect Filter Shadow Palette in Golden Hour. I also go the Sweet Cheeks Blush Palette. Then finally I got the Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette mainly because it was on sale lol!

Polish Play

First I pulled Very Structured from Essie's Fall 2011 collection. Then I pulled out the rest and then I randomly grabbed other nail polishes. I'm still attempting to clear nail polishes out. -_______-

Very Structured, Glamour Purse, Case Study, Power Clutch, Lady Like, Carry On

Urban Decay Mrs. Mia Wallace, Ozotic 505, Covergril Emerald Blaze, Bondi Midnight Mystery, Bondi Starry Night

Fragrance Play

For fragrance I am going to play around with Wen's 613 and Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy.

A nice mix of products. I feel like these posts are becoming redundant. We'll see if I stick to them or try to change them up a bit.

January 2017 Shop My Stash

Happy New Year! I'm going to continue with these posts for 2017. I'm still on a clear out my stash kick. My hope is that posts will help me go through my stash, use stuff and then make some decisions on what can go. We shall see. I'm running out of ideas on what to do with the stuff I don't want anymore. So here is what I'm playing around with for the month.

Eyeshadow Play

I didn't really play around with the Bare Minerals eyeshadows I took out last month. So I'll use them and probably add some other to the mix. These shadows are ones I really want to clear out of my stash. Once I clear out the ones I don't want anymore, I have no idea what to do with them.

Polish Play

I've been trying to figure out what I want to do for nail polish this year. The idea popped in my head to go through my stash by brand. So that's what I'll do and you make see a brand for a few months at a time. I am going to start with Essie. Some of these colors aren't "appropriate' for the current season but I don't really care *shrugs*.

Tour de Finance, The Lace is On, Under the Twilight, Navigate Her, Vested Interest, Resort Fling

For the Twill of It, To Buy or Not To Buy, Cocktails & Coconuts, Cashmere Bathrobe, Ole Caliente, Find Me an Oasis

Fragrance Play

I'm going to continue using Living Grace since I had the whipped body creme that almost done.

Kinda boring but dah well. Even though I'm trying to stick to using what I have in my stash doesn't mean something new won't pop up here and there *shifty eyes*.

Let's go!

December 2016 Shop My Stash

December! DECEMBER! Oye vey. This year flew by but this year has also been a rough one. So honestly I'm kinda glad to see it go. I decided to keep it kinda of simple this month since this an all over the place month with the holidays thrown in the mix. Here's what I'm playing around with for the month!

Palette Play

For some reason the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette popped in my head. So I'm going to play around with it and some single Bare Minerals shadows.

Polish Play

I'm still playing around with some of the Milani nail polishes I pulled out last month. I'm adding some nail polishes for December that are a little more festive. From OPI, I'm adding Amore at the Grand Canal, Live and Let Die and First Class Desires. From Sephora by OPI, I'm adding Good Tidings We Bling. It's almost on it's last legs *tear* lol! Also I think I have found my holy grail red nail polish with Amore at the Grand Canal. I will definitely do a nail post with this one.

Fragrance Play

For fragrances I plan on reaching for philosophy Living Grace, philosophy Eternal Grace and Boyfriend by Kate Walsh.

Out of My Face

Here is what I used up in November:

• Wen Summer Coconut Lime Verbena Cleansing Conditioner
• Serious Skincare A Force XR Serum Concentrate
• Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Rinse
• philosophy Pure Grace Body Lotion 16oz
• tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Masacara 
• tarte Tarteist Mascara
• Bath & Body Works Nourishing Hand Cream in Limoncello
• NYX HD Concealer in Nutmeg
• Eyeko Visual  Eyes Liiquid Eyeliner in Ebony
• Serious Skincare Ultra-Mare Pure Marine Infusion Concentrated Serum
• Ashea Shea Butter Pomade
• HK Girl Fast Drying & Super Shiny Clear Top Coat
• Serious Skincare A Wash 12oz
• Bioderma Sensibio H2O 500ml
• Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Deodorant in Powder Fresh 

Thanks for following me along as I go through my stash! I plan to keep these posts going for 2017.  I may switch it up a bit. I'm hoping to purge and use more stuff up!

November 2016 Shop My Stash

November....already! Oye vey. Here's what I'm playing around with for the month!

Palette Play 

I got my items back from Glambot on Halloween (and nothing smelled like smoke by the way. Still pissed about my last dealings with them). I noted some items to play with for November. I had some single Bobbi Brown eyeshadows that I snapped into two of her empty palettes. I've played around with them already and have really been enjoying them. One shade is already a front runner for a November favorite. Can you guess which one? I also decided to use the Smashbox Photo Op Mega Palette which is another past favorite item. These items aren't bad. It's just that with having so much makeup and not using them for a while, I decided to pass them on. Buttttt now that they are back I will use them.

Polish Play

I'm going to play around with a bunch of older Milani nail polishes and the newer Color Statement nail polishes that I have. There are a lot of nail polishes in and around this bowl. Some of these I had pulled aside to give away. But then I wanted play around with them again and then decide. Here we have:

• Black Swift
• Peach Innocence 
• Showy Sea Green
• Bolting Blue
• Black Cherry
• Mauve Medley
• Chocolate Sprinkles
• Deep Thoughts
• Vivid Violet
• Vanilla Almond
• Dark Coffee
• Sangria Rush
• Rad Purple
• Natural Touch
• Sugar Cane
• Sugar High
• Spotlight White
• Enchanted Garnet
• Enchanted Sapphire
• Enchanted Emerald
• Dolci
• Gilded Rocks

Since there is a lot here and December is kind of "short"/all over the place month, I may continue using these into December. I may just throw in some glitter polishes that I like to wear around the holidays next month and call it a day.

Fragrance Play

For fragrance I am going to work on trying to use up what I have left of philosophy's Falling in Love. I am also going to play around with the two scents I am from Sofia Vegara in Sofia and Love.

Out of My Face

Here is what I used up in October:

• Serious Skincare A Eye XR
• Serious Skincare A Serum
• Wen 319 Body Treatment
• Simple Micellar Make-up Remover Wipes
• Korres Body Butter in Basil Lemon
• Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Clean & Fresh Toothpaste in Clean Mint
• philosophy Fresh Cream and Mint Body Lotion
• Colour Pop Lip Liner in Pitch
• Colour Pop Lip Liner in Ellarie
• Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Shea Butter Super Rich Body Cream Fragrance Free

Sorry for the weird lighting. But remember Google is your friend. Play time go!

October 2016 Shop My Stash

Happy October! *shakes my head at the fact that it is OCTOBER*

Palette Play

This month I'm going to play around with a bunch palettes. I'm deciding on the remaining palettes I have from of Urban Decay (excluding the Naked palettes), Bobbi Brown and Tarte palettes I got in sets from QVC. I am getting together another batch of items to send to Glambot probably by the end of the month/early November (review coming). I also ordered the LORAC Mega Pro 3 palette from Ulta. I passed on the other two but for some reason the makeup spirits said order it. I've done one look with it already and I'm not all that impressed. So we'll see if I keep it. Annnnnnd I also got the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics palette which I've already used a few times and I'm really enjoying it. So a lot to play around with this month and decisions to make.

Polish Play

I'm going to continue playing around with the OPI Washington DC Collection and Zoya polishes that I mentioned last month. I'm going to add Toni, Stacy and Jem from Zoya to the mix.

Fragrance Play

For fragrance, I am going to play around with the two Juicy Couture scents I have in Viva la Juicy and Viva la Juicy Rosé.

Out of My Face

Here's what I used up in September:

• Serious Skincare A Defiance A Force XR Retinol Serum Concentrate 1oz 
• Boscia Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens 100 sheets
• NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Espresso 
• Wen Tea Tree Eucalyptus Treatment Oil 4oz
• Skindinavia The Finshing Makeup Spray Oil Control
• Serious Skincare Pure Pep Concentrate  2oz
• One n Only Argan Oil Hydrating Mask
• Influance Stimulating Scalp Oil 
• Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent 
• Serious Skincare A Defiance 4 Million IU A Cream XR 2oz
• Serious Skincare Serious-C C Serum
• Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha
• philosophy Amazing Grace Whipped Body Creme 16oz
• philosophy The Present
• Ulta Enriched Nail Polish Remover

Let's get to it!

September 2016 Shop My Stash

It's September. It's really SEPTEMBER!?!??! Where has the year gone? Seriously. Oye vey. Here's what I am playing around with in September!

Palette Play

I'm going to play around with the The Nubian 2 and The Masquerade palettes from Juvia's Place. I've used them a bit here and there. I've had them for a while now but haven't really used them.

Insert rant: It's not really a rant BUT I would like to say that I knew about the Juvia's Place palettes BEFORE certain YouTubers found out about them and others are now on the "bandwagon". I'm excited for the additional business that Juvia's Place is getting but still.

Polish Play

Soooooo OPI has collaborated with Kerry Washington for the OPI Washington DC Collection! When I found about this collection over the summer, I said just take my money! There are 17 polished in the collection. 17! *wall slides and insert deep sigh*. Two of the polishes are exclusive to Ulta (Front Runner and Politically Polished). So I got the two mini sets and 4 full sizes polishes (Squeaker of the House, Suzi - The First Lady of Nails, Shh...It's Top Secret and Front Runner). I got the 4 piece mini set (shades included are: We the Female, Pale to the Chief, CIA = Color is Awesome Never a Dulles Moment) from Sally Beauty and everything else from Ulta. The 3 piece mini set includes: Inside the ISABELLEtway, Kerry Blossom, "Liv" in the Grey. I wasn't able to get Politically Polished but a friend of mine was able to scoop it in store and is sending it to me *twirls*. I will try and do some nail posts since this is recent collection and swatches on deeper skin tones seem non-existent online. I had to trim my nails down, so bare with me.

Fragrance Play

I'm going to show some love to the Lancome fragrances I own, La Vie Est Belle and Tresor. I'm also going to see I can use up the shower gel and body in Cashmere Glow by Bath and Body Works.

Out of My Face

Here's what I used up in August:

• Serious Skincare A Defiance A Force XR Retinol Serum Concentrate 1oz 
• Serious Skincare Vitamin A Retinol Pads 60 pads
• Harmon Face Values Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes 
• Wen Cleansing Conditioner in Fig 32oz 
• Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha
• Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate...FINALLY! Woohoo!
• philosophy Hands of Hope 4oz
• Ambi Even and Clear Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30
• Neutrogena Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
• Influance S3 Spray
• One n Only Argan Oil Treatment 3.4fl oz
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser
• Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hand Cream
• Bare Minerals Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer - I didn't finish this but was ready to be down with it. So in the trash it goes

Sorry that the pics aren't the best. Need to figure out an alternative. The change in season is upon us and daylight is getting shorter Waaaaaahhhh!!! As always Google is your friend and I try to mention product names and where I got something/where it is available.

Let the play commence!