WHAT I WORE - This Week In Face

Hey There!

My face products don't vary much. I always use a powder, bronzer, blush and a lippie. It keeps it simple. I said this week, but this has actually been my face for the last two weeks!

I love my MAC Studio Fix in NC42. 

That's not a surprise. I've been using 2 bronzers this month. I've been using my NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny (cult fave) and my e.l.f. Glow in Bronzed. Sunny has been my everyday bronzer and Bronzed has been my "let's go out" bronzer. I'm sad to say that haven't used my "let's go out" bronzer nearly as much as I'd like.

My cheeks have been simple. I've been using my NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in Pink Cheek Glow. It's a soft pink color for me. Just a hint of color really. And when I need more color, I've used my Sonia Kashuk blush in Spice. This one is more of a deeper pink. You just need the smallest amount!

I mentioned going out and when you go out, you need a highlighter! I also gave my coworkers a treat during the week and wore my e.l.f. Baked Highlighter in Pink Diamonds. Careful! This is a BAM! highlighter and looks great. Just a touch!

My lips will amaze you. I have used 1 lipstick for two weeks. ONE!!! My Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in Blushing Nude has been my bae (did I just type that?!). I have been loving this beautiful warm brown with a hint of pink. It's such a versatile color and I could just wear it every day (and I did!).

I mixed it up with some lip glosses. The mix and match ability of these were fantastic! I wore my new Milani Lip Gloss (with no name, so brown) and my NYX Butter Glosses in Angel Food Cake and Strawberry Parfait. My Butter Glosses are always in my purse. I love them. They smell good and the jazz up any lip color or work well alone.

So that's been my face for 2 weeks. There have been minor exceptions (link here) but this has been my face uniform. I prepare my makeup for the week on Sunday, so I should have new face colors at the end of this week (or next few weeks). Stay tuned!

Quickie Review - Milani Illuminating Face Powder

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Last year during the Black Friday sales, I tried out some products that I couldn't find in stores. Two of those items were the Illuminating Face Powders (Amber Nectar and Hermosa Rose) by Milani. I had seen them on other people's blogs and YouTube channels but I never could find them in my local stores. Then, Milani has their Black Friday sale and I seized my opportunity.

Over all, I like Milani's products. They are reasonably priced and a good quality. These two products definitely fall into that category. These illuminating powders normally cost $9.99 apiece. I of course, got them for half price so 2 of these babies for $9.99 is a great deal. I've heard other people complain about how cheap the containers are but I like them. I think they look sleek for a drugstore product. I've never been ashamed to pull them out or display them. And, you get a good bit of product in them fir the price. The containers have .35 oz of product. Laura Mercier has an illuminating powder with the same amount of product for $38 (Side bar - the Laura Mercier powder has hints of the same color spectrum as these. Is Milani a dupe? Not sure, you tell me).

I like the powders. There isn't a ton of sparkle and the colors meld together beautifully. Amber Nectar is a warm brown peach and Hermosa Rose is a brown with the slightest hint of pink. They both do have slight illuminating qualities but I wouldn't call these highlighters at all. For me, they are winter time bronzers. They give a rich, natural glow to my skin that warms me up and doesn't make me look over done. For someone lighter than me (NC42), these could be regular bronzers (with sheen). For someone darker, mehhh, not sure that they would work.

I like these and will continue to use them for a warm glow, until I get my summer tan. Then I'll have to put these away. Would I buy them again? The color is really natural and doesn't make me look all made up. At full price, probably not. For $5, maybe. I have to think about it. Do I recommend these? As highlighters, no. As warm bronzers, yes.

Black Friday Haul - Milani

Hey there!

And the Black Friday boxes keep on coming in!

I was sooooo excited to get my Milani shipment. Milani was one of those websites that had Cyber Monday 50% off with free shipping over $25. I had already picked out items that I wanted so when I saw the deal pop up, I pounced.

My local stores have some Milani items but there are always things that you can never find in stock or your store doesn't carry it. That was what I was doing on the Milani website. I wanted to pick up those things that have been on my list for months but I can never seem to find them in store.

Top - Black Cherry
Second - Berry Tempting
Third - Primrose
Bottom - Flirty Fuchsia

Milani lipsticks and glosses seem to run out of my local stores. It never fails, I'll walk into the store and the colors I want are gone. I'm pretty friendly with the cosmetic counter folks and they tell me that as soon as Milani colors come in, someone snatches them up. So, I took this opportunity to order 2 of the Color Statement Lipsticks -- Plumrose and Flirty Fuchsia. Are those colors gorgeous??? I am so ready to wear Plumrose. It took all my willpower not to try it on before I took pictures! And looking at the bottom of Flirty Fuchsia, my first thought was that it would be too bold. Then I took the lid off of that bad boy and I didn't care if it was too bold or not. How gorgeous is that color? Soooo pretty!

I kept the prettiness going with lip glosses. I ordered 3 but one was on back order so I'll have to tell you about that one later. The 2 that did show up were Black Cherry and Berry Tempting. Yes, yes, yes. Those are temptress colors that you see. I have no problem playing the part! I'm loving the colors and we all already know how easy these glosses are to wear. I put Milani lip glosses up there with my favorite high end glosses!

I own several blushes from Milani but no face powders. My color match always seems to be out of stock. All of the lighter and darker ones are always there but the mid-tone shade is never there. I decided to try the Multitasker Face Powder in Tan. It looked close to my color and if it ends up not being my color, I can use it as a touch up powder.

I added 2 Illuminating Face Powders to my package. I ordered Amber Nectar and Hermosa Rose. I've mentioned a few times that 2015 is my year to find the perfect face illuminator. I don't know if one of these will win the prize but boy are they both really pretty. I'll let you know what I think of them.

So that's the Milani haul. Not bad for right at $25 bucks, huh? Especially since it's stuff that's hard to find. Are your Black Friday hauls still coming in? Did you find some new goodies or you just replenished your stock of old faithful?

Super Spectacular CVS Spring Clearance Haul a.k.a CVS Spring Clearance 2014 Haul

The CVS super spectacular spring clearance is one of my favorite makeup times of the year (second only to the super spectacular fall clearance and Black Friday). This is when I toss the things that didn't work over the past 6 months and when I build my collection with things that might work for the next 6 months. I don't go in CVS all willy nilly though. I do use a system. Even though I will go back to the CVS stores several times before it's all said and done, my first trip is when I pay 50% off for the things that I really want and wouldn't want to miss out on.

Front and center are 2 Revlon Nearly Naked Foundations. I picked up the 2 that were marked down (the others weren't - yet?), 200 Warm Beige and 210 Sun Beige. 200 Warm Beige is totally my color now and 210 Sun Beige will be my shade by August, after I've gotten some sun. Let me just tell you about my foundation situation. For years I didn't like liquid foundation. It made my face feel claustrophobic. Does that make sense to you? It totally does to me. So, I stuck with powders and then I tried a few high end foundations. Many of them felt nice on my face. I realized that I had been trying full coverage liquid foundations and while they may look flawless on your face, I prefer to have a flaw or two and let my skin breathe instead. So, I wanted to give these two a try and see if the Revlon Nearly Naked formula is really nearly naked and non claustrophobic. I'll let you know.

I don't have to explain the nail polish. It's nail polish. Everyone needs nail polish. Milani isn't a brand that I normally go to for polish but at 50% off, I'm willing to try. I have Move On Mauve, Heather and Cupid's Touch. I also picked up 2 of the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Glosstinis from the Hunger Games line. I wasn't overly excited about any of the colors but Rouge Red and Inferno looked ok.

Day two of my CVS experience included more nail polish -- Revlon Parfumerie in Lavendar Soap, Milani Nail Lacquer in Sugar Burst and one in Sugar Cane. I think I'm going to like those sugar colors. While the nail polish is great, I'm really excited about the 2 treatment products - Revlon Treat and Boost and Revlon Cuticle Softner. I am expecting great things from them (which will be a bummer if they are being discontinued, right?).

Milani baked eyeshadow in Copper Excess

L'Oreal Paris Quad in Hollywood Icon

CoverGirl Eye Enhancers Trio in Major Distraction

I also picked up 3 eyeshadows and a shadow pencil. Milani baked eyeshadow in Copper Excess looked nice, L'Oreal Paris Quad in Hollywood Icon looked fun and CoverGirl Eye Enhancers Trio in Major Distraction looked fun as well. The CoverGirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in lime green looked good. Not sure when or where I'm going to wear it but I will!

And, Essence Face of Beauty Angled Blush Brush was an exciting find for me. I love angled blush brushes. They work perfectly for bronzer and blush and I can't wait to try this one.

And, this is just my first go at the CVS Super spectacular...I know, I know. It's the CVS spring clearance. See, I'm just as excited as you are!

TAG: What’s My Face Worth

I was reading through my beauty blogs and came across the "What's My Face Worth?" tag. I have to admit, I got a little scared. I don't feel that I wear a lot of makeup or that I spend a lot on it (well, never mind) but I as I saw from others, the cost can add up. I thought it would be interesting to see how much I spend on my everyday face products. It's probably scary!

So, I made a list of what I wore Tuesday morning and priced it out for you. The prices listed are the normal prices at the stores that I purchased them from. It doesn't include coupons or sales or samples and y'all know I like those!

  

Who can start their beautification process without concealer? Not me, that's for sure. I begin everyday with it. Right now I'm using Bare Minerals Concealer in Tan2 ($20). I then pull out my NYX Eye Shadow Base, skintone ($6). I just began using BB cream in the past 30 days but think I'm gonna love it! I am using the Lancôme BB Cream in 6 caramel right now ($45). I don't feel comfortable with just bb cream alone so I do a quick sweep of Bare Minerals Original Foundation ($27).

  

Then I take a sip of coffee or two or I may pick out a pair of earrings and I put on some Maybelline Baby Lips in Grapevine ($3.49) to moisturize my lips and get them ready for lipstick.

  

Just this December I discovered Revlon Photoready Bronzed & Chic bronzer ($7.99) and fell in love. It's the perfect bronze for my skin. I'm currently using my Sonia Kashuk Beauty Blush in 52 Spice ($9.79) This too was a surprise find. Sometimes taking chances works out.

  

I've been testing Milani Brow Fix in 02 ($6.99) and like it. The brow powder is a bit redder than I like but I can blend it and make it work. The highlighter that it's paired with is a great color. It's just enough sparkle and a good color for the brow bone. To complement my fabulous brows (well, I think so) I've been using the Wet n Wild eye trios ($2.99). My faves right now are Knock on Wood and Walking on Eggshells. I also add a swipe of Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick ($3.97) and some Almay Intense i-color Purple Amethyst Eyeliner ($4.99).

  

I've been trying the trick I saw on YouTube to keep my eyeliner in place. When I add my Bare Minerals Well Rested ($18) under my eyes I make sure that I get it close to eyeliner. It's supposed to help minimize oils under your eye. Works so far. I add some Jordana Best Lash mascara ($3.99) on my lashes, fill in my lips with a Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Pencil ($6.29) and add a touch of Revlon Pinkisimo ($7) gloss over that and whaa-la! Perfection.

Well, close, you know.

And the total cost for perfection? $173.49

Not bad considering the many of the products last at least 6 months. Some items last as long as a year so doing some quick math, we're talking about $.63/day.

Now THAT's not bad!