May 2016 Top 5 & More

Another fun month messing around with my stash and some new items. Let's get to it!

Top 5

Go to Look for May

I'm cheating here by mentioning three products but dah well. Most mornings I have a rough idea on what I want to throw on my face. Sometimes it's just one product that comes to mind and then I go from there. I took L'Oreal's Infallible Eyeshadow in Gleaming Bronze with me on my work trip last month but didn't use it. So I threw it in with my current play around with items for May. I reached for it one morning and used it with Heartbreaker from the Tartelette Tease palette (matte brown). I grabbed Smashbox Blush Rush in Gingersnap for my blush and MAC Dej Loaf Lipglass for my lips and LOVED the look. It was simple to do and it was a nice fresh faced look with a hint of color with the shadow. It's rare that I repeat a look in a month. I probably work this look 5 or 6 times. Gleaming Bronze is a pretty olive bronze shade. It was limited edition but I picked it up on Amazon. Smashbox Gingersnap is an old blush. I don't think the keep this shade when they redid their blushes. It's a peachy bronze blush that adds a nice flush of color on my checks. I mentioned MAC's Dej Loaf Lipglass last month and it pairs nicely with the look.

One n' Only Argan Oil Treatment

My hairdresser recommended this hair oil. I picked  it up from Sally's after my last hair appointment. My hair has been so temperamental lately. It's been growing yet breaking off in this one spot grrrr!! So I'm hoping this oil helps. It's very lightweight. It adds a nice shine to my hair with a nice balance of moisture. The price is nice too. I picked two bottles up along with another product when Sally's had a buy 2, get the third item free promo.

One n' Only Argan Oil Hydrating Mask

Since I got two oils, I was looking for another item to complete the promo. There was this mask and a restorative one. I went with this one because it has an emphasis on moisture. This stuff is good. It instantly hydrates my hair when I apply it. When I rinse it out my hair feels so good. I also feel like my other products absorb into my hair better after using this mask.  I also like that I only have to leave it in my hair 5-10 minutes and I don't have to sit under the dryer/use my heated cap. This is the only deep conditioning product that I have been using. I'll see what's what in a couple of weeks when I go and see my hairdresser. *fingers crossed*

eBay "Mac" Brushes

I randomly started poking around eBay looking up Mac eye brush dupes for giggles. Of course what I found were ridiculously cheap and from China. I know some folks have issues with ordering item directly from China. Right now I don't. I found dupes for the 217, 219, 224 and 239. I use the term dupe loosely since the don't look exactly like the actually Mac brushes. When I got them, I wasn't overly excited but I washed them and started using them. Surprisingly enough I have really enjoyed using these brushes. I've washed them and went right back to using them instead of reaching for different eye brushes. I haven't had any issues with shedding and the get the job done for me to do an eye look. I purchased from two sellers. I tried going back and looking for them but I could only find this one. I think I got the 219 and 239 dupes from this seller but they also have the the 217 and 224. They all seem to sell the same stuff, So check them out if you're looking for some inexpensive eye brushes.

Beyonce Lemonade

Just when I think how is she going to top her last album, she comes out of left field with something! I watched Lemonade on HBO when it premiered in my hotel room. At  first I was like, huh, what, ohhhh then YES! I still order CDs and could not wait to pre-order the CD/DVD. My test for an album is that can I listen to it from beginning to end with no skips. I can with this one. The songs I cannot stop listening to are Don't Hurt Yourself, Sorry, 6 Inch and Freedom.

Yays!

Trident Minty Sweet Twist Gum

Gum? Yes gum lol! I always have gum. Always. It's one of those things I have to have in my purse. I randomly picked this up at checkout while in line at Safeway. I particularly like minty gums. I don't know what it is about this one but I really like it. I think because it's sweet and minty. Plus I can blow some nice bubbles Teehee!

Yoplait Plenti

Another random grocery store purchase. I got this from Safeway only because it was a Just for You free offer. On the front it says oatmeal meets Greek yogurt. Interesting concept. I've gotten more into Greek yogurt in the last month or so. I usually mix it with granola and eat it for breakfast. I picked this up in the strawberry flavor and it's really good and filling. Breakfast is hard for me. For lunch during the workweek, I can make something and eat it everyday without any issues. I get bored with breakfast items easily. The cost of these is only $1.50 which is not bad. I will definitely look into the other flavors.

Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Collection

Lord knows I DID NOT need theses two palettes at ALL! I picked up the 02 Bare Necessities palette and the 05 Earthy Elements palette. CVS was having a promo, so that's why I got two palettes. They are also available on Milani's website. One of my pushas (Jennifer Wan) did a video on palettes under $20. She mentioned if you missed out on Too Faced's Peanut Butter and Jelly palette that the Earthy Elements palette would be a good substitute for the warm shades. After I got it, I saw that emilynoel83 mentioned the same palette and that she really liked it as well. I wasn't expecting much but I've enjoyed both palettes. They are nice on their own and paired together. These would also make good travel palettes. If you're looking for a warmed toned palette but you don't want a bunch of shades or don't want to spend a lot of money then check the Earthy Elements palette out. Or if you're looking for a nice everyday palette then check out Bare Necessities. There are four additional palettes. I'm going to be good and not pick up the other ones. Let's see if this holds. I seriously do not need them. I need to pair down my palette collection but I cringe at trying to tackle that task.

Boos!

Just the Basics Cleansing & Makeup Facial Towelettes 

Trolling around CVS, I came across these makeup remove wipes. Now I had dubbed the Harmon Face Values Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes as my holy grail wipes. But I saw these and said hmmmm, these are $5 and it's 60 wipes. They may be something good. So I got them and cracked the pack open. The first wipe was insanely dry. So I turned the pack upside down to see if the moisture would redistribute. The next couple wipes were better but not great, Then the next couple wipes were still not moist enough, So I said NOPE! I saved them to post about them and now they're going in the trash. Also I didn't like the size of the wipes. They're not small but not large enough for my liking to use on my face. So from here on out, I'm sticking to the brands I've used and know I like (Neutrogena, Aveeno and Harmon).

Bare Minerals Matte Foundation

Now THIS is a shocker. I have raved about this foundation for years. I've given it holy grail status. Wearing recently my views on it have changed. My biggest issue is how it oxidizes on me. I originally got matched in Golden Deep and is has been the main shade I have stuck with. I've also been matched in Warm Deep and I picked up Medium Deep to try based off of chatting with Bare Minerals customer service and my recent shade issues. They all go on fine but as the day goes on, they all change on me. I never really noticed it until I started using other foundations mainly the Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless foundation. Plus it's not keeping my oil at bay like it used to. I mean it never kept me completely matte all day but lately I've been looking like a oil slick. So I'm not sure if I'm going to hold on to the two shades I have now (Medium Deep and Golden Deep) and give them another try down the line or just toss them.

And there you have it.

Not bad this month. On to June!