January 2018 Favorites & Empties Recap

It's been a couple of months since I've done a monthly favorites post. While this will be considered January's favorites and fails, this is really more like a "mid-Winter favorites" edition.


First, a quick note about my utter failure of the brand focus for January. You'll see the best of the best reflected here, but the concept is one I'm not loving. It turns out that the brand that I picked for January (Smashbox) doesn't excite me. I found a few new loves, but my new favorite product out of the bunch was a CCO pick which is discontinued.


Primers, Foundations, and Concealers:

1- Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer (a new discovery), 2- Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing (rivals Benefit's Porefessional), 3- L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base (does the job that I hope someday soon injectibles will take over), 4- Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer (a lovely drugstore concealer I've been reaching for), 5- Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Waterproof Concealer (a fantastic discovery), 6- Guerlain L'Or Primer (is a HG, especially when paired with) 7- La Mer The Soft Fluid Foundation (I do love this, despite the price), 8- Kiko Skin Tone Concealer (is my favorite color corrector, sorry to see the local store closed), 9- Lancome Teint Idole Foundation (is too much on its own, but I've found an ideal mate in), 10- Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil (too much on its own but my new favorite mixing oil), 11- Too Faced Hangover Rx 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer and Setting Spray (perfect for winter), 12- Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer- Radiance (one of my new favorite discoveries, I just wish I didn't have so many radiance primers at the moment), 13- ColourPop No Filter Concealer (quite nice, just oxidizes a bit)


Powders:

1- Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Finishing Powder 05 Fair (the raves were real), 2- CoverFx Illuminating Setting Powder (is part of my project pan but I do like it under my eyes as it turns out), 3- Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light (my HG undereye powder), 4- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (my new HG)


Bronzer, Contour, and Brows:

1- Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow (the bronzer is outstanding on my pale complexion), 2- MAC Studio Sculpt Defning Bronzing Powder in Delicates (a new cool-toned favorite), 3- ELF Brow Kit in Light (multitasker-- I use the pomade on my brows and love the powder as a contour), 4- Benefit Browvo! Conditioning Primer (is something I love when I'm using it but always forget to repurchase), 5- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz in Medium Brown (no words necessary)


Blush:

1- Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow (has a lovely peach blush that leaves a healthy glow), 2- Smashbox Soft Lights in Prism (my absolute new favorite discovery and I'm gutted that the brand was foolish enough to discontinue it), 3- Physicians Formula Butter Blush in Plum Rose (a lovely nude blush only for fair complexions), 4- Clinique Cheek Pop in Nude Pop (one of my all-time favorites), 5- Chantecaille Cheek Shade in Blush (it's back in the philanthropy collection!)


Highlighter:

1- theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer (I'm sadly very late to this party), 2- Laura Geller Baked Highlighter in French Vanilla (a true favorite), 3- NYX Love You So Mochi Arcade Glam (a shockingly wonderful new discovery)

Eye Primers, Liners, and Mascaras:

1- Too Faced Glitter Glue (my go-to for glitters and shimmers), 2- Smashbox 24 hour Shadow Primer & Photo Finish Lid Primer (a wonderful duo of primers- one new, one an old favorite- that I've been enjoying), 3- Inglot AMC Gel Eyeliners in 77 & 78 (love these eyeliners and have been loving a teeny wing lately), 4- NYX Slide On, Glide On Eyeliner in Jewel (love this on the lower lash line with pinky looks), 5- NYX Metallic Eyeliner in Rose Gold (a great new Spring 2018 release), 6- Anastasia Beverly Hills Darkside Eyeliner (how did I ever live without this?), 7- Anastasia Beverly Hills Metallic Luster Liners in Liquid Silver and Liquid Gold (so lovely to use on a daily basis), 8- Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer (my favorite lash primer to date), 9-Chanel Le Volume Mascara in Ultra Black (I'm so sorry to see my final tube done and gone. I love this so much)


Eyeshadow Palettes:

1- NARS Wanted Palette (Admittedly, this was an impulse purchase but the roses and pinks just called my name. Look for a full review from me soon), 2- LORAC California Dreaming Palette (this is new to me- I put it away, unused when I was able to nab it on sale. This seemed to be the perfect month to pull it out, and I'm thrilled), 3- NYX Love You So Mochi Palettes (these are the shocker of the spring for me so far. So, so good!), 4- Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette (I've been feeling rosy looks, so this came out to join the mix)

Lips:

1- NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita (I was on a pinky nude kick this month and happy to pull this old favorite out), 2- Clinique Pop Lip Color- Nude Pop (this is in promo packaging but this is a lovely nude for daily wear), 3- Shea Moisture Luscious Lipstick in Tea Rose (one of my all-time cool-toned MLBB favorites), 4- Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Primrose (my best discovery of the month), 5- Butter London Sheer Wisdom Lip Oils (Ballet Blush pictured but several shades are stunning), 6- By Terry Baume de Rose (any version- I used the original potted, original gloss, and tinted glosses), 7- Hourglass GIRL Stylo in Creator (another lovely pink), 8- NYX Butter Lipstick in Root Beer Float (my favorite discovery from the Holiday 2017 kit), 9- bareMinerals GenNude Liquid Lipsticks in Smooch and Slay (my two favorite shades of the line, this shows the types of colors I'm into this time of year), 10- NudeStix Intense Matte Lip & Cheek Pencil in Belle (finally, a great discovery from the Macy's box!), 11- Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in Babe Alert (my favorite of the line), 12- Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow (this ended up on my lips just about every day. I'm obsessed)




Now, a quick note on my empties. I've been tracking my personal Project Pan on Instagram, but here's some analysis on the regular products I've used up- and the dollar value.

This didn't include any decluttered items, so it's shocking to see my monthly total over $900. I've decided to track these stats this year with the hopes of making my future spending conform with it. I know the bath/body will diminish once it gets warmer.

What have you loved or used up?

Guerlain Holiday Meteorites for Holiday 2017

There are new Meteorites. Therefore I had to pick them up during the Sephora VIB Rouge sale. What's better than new Meteorites? New Meteorites at 20% off! If you're looking for a super-detailed analysis of this product, this isn't the post for you.  I'll be giving you a quick look and my thoughts, and following up later today with a second post because I'm feeling that holiday spirit as of late.

The Guerlain Meteorites Gold Pearl retail for $65 and contain 0.7 oz of product in a luxe gold container. It was bothering me for a full week and I finally know what it reminds me of. 

Anyone remember the Julep 20s collection in their old school nail box? The one with the mini lippies? There was a lip scrub in the same packaging!!

Let's focus back on the Meteorites. It's futile to swatch.

These remind me of the last gold meteorites- Holiday 2015? (*QBB does some research... yes, 2015. The one that looks like a snow globe.)

I'm talking about the one in the lower left with the gold in the middle of the globe

The main difference is that these don't have stars, and are a little more subtle but yet gold. I like them- they're pretty standard holiday offerings from the brand.

I'd highly recommend this for the packaging. I can't wait to cover myself with a little glitz as the season of glitz approaches.

Guerlain Meteorites Birthday Candle Pearls

I have a dirty little (expensive) secret I've been keeping from you, dear readers.

I'm a ball-a-holic.

No, wait, that came out wrong. Unless you were a frequenter of that thread in the old school Specktra forums. Then, welcome!

What I meant to say is that I've been honest about my nail polish hoarding, my taste for pricey lipsticks and makeup... but somehow even though I've blogged on and off for four years I've never mentioned that I'm obsessed with Guerlain Meteorites.

Part of my Meteorites collection PART.

Perhaps it's because I'm slightly embarassed to collect hand-rolled balls of powder that retail for $62 each? I'll explain why I love these after I talk about the latest LE release- the Meteorites Birthday Candle Pearls. As of writing this review, they're still available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Dillard's.

For your $62, you get the latest limited edition release that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Meteorites- and whose case reportedly is similar to the original.

Let me take a minute to talk about why I love this product. It's a lovely finishing powder, but more than anything else, it just makes you feel good using it. There's something reminiscent of a forgotten era when you swirl your brush into one of these tins.

I like the effect that these finishing powders produce, but I also love the way they make me feel. And that's worth every penny.

According to the brand, this iteration contains "gold pearls to fight dullness, pink pearls to reveal glow, and champagne and white pearls to reflect the light."

It's almost impossible to show a real impact on the face, so I'll just show you how shiny my hand is. These are glowy.

When these are blended out, they don't look powdery on the face.

Still I kept thinking that these reminded me of some other versions in my collection. I pulled a few close comparisons;

They're the closest to a glowier version of the old Teint Beige (which was reformulated into Medium and lavender added).

Bottom Line: I love these but I'm also a collector. They're close to a product likely in your collection, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend one of the glowier versions for the first set of Meteorites in your collection. The collector in me feels so happy to have these, and I've been enjoying them.

NOTD: Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire

After I mentioned this shade earlier this week, it occurred to me that I hadn't featured it as a NOTD!  Today I'm happy to share Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire (#463) with you.  Just an important note- shade names are only on boxes and not on bottles.

There are three thin coats and Formula X top coat on my nails here. It's a lovely, soft, feminine shade.

Guerlain Meteorites Blossom Collection- Star Dust Nail Lacquer

Continuing the week of Spring 2014 collections, I present my second-ever purchase from Guerlain's Spring 2014 Collection: Meteorites Blossom.  Admittedly, I've not explored this brand much, although this purchase has already sent me in pursuit of additional colors from the La Laque Couleur line.

The Spring 2014 collection is designed to reflect the brilliance of stardust and the luminosity of the re-formulated Meteorites.  There is a limited-edition La Laque Couleur and matching lipgloss in the Star Dust shade.  I selected the nail polish after looking long and hard at the matching lipgloss.

Star Dust (#862) retails for $25 and is a limited-edition shade. I got mine at Nordstrom, but Sephora also has it listed on the website.  It is a sheer white with multi-colored reflections and shimmer.  It's hard to explain without seeing it in person.  The shimmer is far more obvious than, say Chanel Intermezzo.

These swatches are with three coats, and indoors, with flash.  They don't do it justice.  Please see Temptalia and The Beauty Look Book for better photos.


Next up: Essie Spring 2014 collection.