Monster Mash

I crack myself up with post titles.  I am the worst and they are not good or helpful, but for whatever reason they bring a smile to my face so suck it internet people.  As you surely saw from the highly descriptive title, I want to talk about Coloupop's Monster highlighter.  Also, it is October so everything is Halloween all the time.  I had been wanting to place a Colourpop order and remembered Auxiliary Beauty saying "Monster is magic. Monster is love." which is really the most ringing endorsement I have ever heard.  This caused me to throw monster in along with Hippo, a more purple/silver toned highlighter I have yet to properly explore.

Monster is nothing if not a tricky devil, appearing an undetectable nude or a bright magenta depending on the angle of the light hitting the magic little particles.  In the pan you can see this effect by simply tilting the entire playdough-textured tub of product around.  Observe:

Also, please admire that my nails in the above photo are orange.  They are orange because my boyfriend was in town when my Colourpop order arrived and he had to bear witness to me cackling like a banshee and trying to keep myself from swatching before I took photos.  Small miracles do happen and he did not run away in terror.  

The effects of Monster are elusively difficult to capture on camera in the form of either a swatch or on the cheeks so prepare for many a photo doing the best it possibly can.  Here is Monster swatched next to Between the Sheets, a blush from Colourpop.  

The first day I had Monster in my hot little hands I slapped it on my cheeks to go for a walk in the park.  I found my fingers to be the easiest application with the texture of Colourpop products.  If you are unfamiliar they are almost like clay, but dry to a more powdery finish on the skin. I went for a curve on the cheek bones and up toward the eye, I don't often find myself highlighting the other, more greasy areas of my face.  Apparently the sunshine made it very obvious and shiny, in that fairy way, but it continued to be an elusive nymph as far as being captured on camera.  Observe my squinted up awkward photos:

The shade comes across a little more strongly int he shadow then in the sun.  I like to think of it as lurking in the darkness.  I also wore it on an outing to the botanical garden for brunch, something about nature makes me want to express my inner fairy.  

And here are some of the cool plants I saw, in all of their fairy home good-ness.  

Alas, this is not a blog all about how cool I think plants are and how I like to pretend tiny little fairies live inside them wearing Monster on their cheeks.  Because we are instead here to talk about makeup I will leave you with some comparisons to Monster.  From left/bottom to right/top this is Temptu highlighter in Champagne, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfect Poured in Pearl, Colourpop Monster, Colourpop Hippo, and Hourglass Mood Light. The Temptu is not even close and serves as an example of everything that is not a highlighter on my skin tone.  I am currently tying to use up a little sample from birchbox though and trying to learn to love it as a blush topper.  Pearl is much more white and more constantly stark on the face, more likely to show from all angles.  Monster appears faint again in these swatches, it was hard to capture its full-on pink glory.  Hippo is cooler, leaning more icy lavender and also more consistently visible than Monster.  Mood Light is faint and lacks the sheen of the other highlighters.  This I use for a subtle glow when I want to pretend to be lit from within rather than a shimmering goddess creature of ethereal power.  

I am so glad that I bought Monster, I find it to be a unique and fun product to play around with.  As soon as I banish the last of the Temptu I predict I will find Monster in very regular rotation.  

Project Pan Progresses

I am pretty happy with the progress I made this month.  I knew it was a little silly of me to put in so many lip products, but look they're slowly moving!  This post is going to be super short and mostly pictures; this is where I am this month:

As you can see I made progress on everything, some more than others.  I am beginning to despair about ever using up a pencil eyeliner.  I probably could have sharpened the nude Rimmel one more time before this update if my eyes had not dried out and started bugging me.  Why would they do such a thing? Probably because I tried to go for a run outdoors instead of working out in the gym and I am allergic to nature.  

My surprise favorite product was the Balm Desert, it's a very flattering super-nude blush.  I like it on my less intense blush days and also enjoyed layering it with the now-used-up cheek stain in Dreamer.  I expected it to be too much of a warm brown and was worried about the shimmer.  Luckily the shimmer does not translate to the cheeks and the warmth is more red than orange, which I find more flattering.  

This month I want to use up Posietint (there is almost nothing left), the Sheer Ladyflower bubble (because why has that not been used up already?), and the Temptu "highlighter" (because I have so many that I love more).  I would also love to hit pan on the Balm Desert, but I have a feeling once I do the entire thing will be gone and I am not sure I am ready to part ways just yet.  

Meet the Pans: Tarte Cheek Stain in Dreamer

This one is basically done, I got some photos just in time to show you what this product looks like with one last use.  This was part of a limited edition set released by Tarte last holiday season.  I would not be surprised if they released a similar favorites collection this year including another miniature cheek stain, but if they do I will certainly not be partaking.  I did not enjoy this form of cheek color.  Toward the end I figured out that I should stop trying to just rub the stick directly on my cheeks like warpaint on a caveman and instead use a stippling brush for a more refined/less blotchy effect.  This piece of knowledge helped, but not so much that I would want to get through another one of these.

I do enjoy the adorable fancy pearls on the top, they make me feel like a high class broad.  Inside the product is a bronzey neutral with shine and faint shimmer.  It comes with a little plastic cap to help keep the freshness in, which I have held onto in order to help justify using this product for a year straight.  This photo is making it appear a little darker than in person color.  

Here you can see that I am indeed finished with this product, it lasted me about 2 months of more or less daily use.  I found that putting it on my cheeks before primer also helped to wear this type of product.  

This is a fairly sheer and low impact blush.  It keeps a glossy shine and can feel a little sticky when applied.  The swatch below is several swipes, even on my fair skin it is hard to get this to show up.  The photo below is also very color accurate, my apologies for the above photos being slightly off. 

Upon comparison to other blushes, it's easy to see just how faint the cheek stain is.  From top to bottom this is Tarte's Classic (LE), Tarte's Achiote, Tarte's Cheek Stain in Dreamer, Colourpop Between the Sheets, and Tarte's Prim (LE).  All three Tarte Amazonian clay blushes are much darker and opaque than the cheek stain, and even the more toned-down Colourpop is quite a bit more intense.  

You can see that Colourpop and Classic are both a pretty good match for Dreamer, Prim is a little pinker.  Achiote is much more deeper and leans much more toward straight red.  

Dreamer's sheerness translates onto the cheek as well as arm swatches.  I tried to build it up to be stronger but it still just registers as a faint flush.  You can see it toward the front of my cheek below as compared to the bare skin back toward my ear.  As you can see my freckles clearly show through the formula.  

Dreamer does translate to a nice, natural flush on the face.  I happen to have an undying love for blush for some reason so I don't mind a little clown cheek occasionally, but I understand that some people want something a little less pigmented.   Here it is on a full face.  Please excuse the slightly derpy expression, I wanted to use my real camera instead of a phone to try to pick the blush up better which makes for awkward selfies.  

Overall I didn't hate using this product, especially toward the end when I figured out better ways to apply it.  However, I definitely learned that Tarte's cheek stains are not products for me and I will not be picking any more up in the future.  

Meet the Pans: L'Oreal Color Riche Balm in Rose Elixir

I realized that if I wanted to share anything at all about some of the items in my project pan before they were all gone I needed to get on that yesterday.  So apologies in advance for the horribly mangled state of all of the products in this series and especially the product featured today.

We are gathered here today to discuss a lip product that, despite using up almost in its entirety, I cannot decide whether I like or hate.  I think like, but maybe I am having warm fuzzies because it's a lip product which I have almost used up entirely and will never have to see again, as long as we both shall live (which for the lip product is like 3 days tops).  I am a little punchy so apparently it is going to be best to just roll with marriage theme of this paragraph.

Here is a photo of the L'Oreal Color Riche Balm in Rose Elixir to make me stop rambling and start sharing potentially useful thoughts.

This photo makes the product look warmer than it is, the case is a very blue-based light pink.  This lipstick (? lip balm? lip product?) is very sheer with a slight pink tinge to it.  It comes in a gold twist up tube with a slanted edge.  

As you can see, I have hardly anything left to it, and will more likely than not be scraping my lips along the sharp edge by the end of the week.  I like the little piece up that clicks into the cap, it makes sure everything is on straight and looks as presentable as a cheap-ish drugstore lipstick will look.  This product retails for $7.99 on Ulta if you are dying to go grab it.  

The product is a soft pink with some sparkles to it if you look up close.  I don't find the sparkles obvious on the lip at all, especially is comparison to the general glossiness the balm provides.  

On the lips the balm provides a general glossy appearance with a slight tinge of pink if your lips aren't too pigmented (such as the delightful ones I own).  However, if you have darker lips I doubt there would be even slight color pay off with this shade.  It can be a bit milky and show up in that crease that touching your lips together makes.  I have never noticed it showing up on my lips in a gross puddle-y way when my mouth isn't tightly closed though.

I was trying to get some slightly different mouth expressions I guess so here is another close up of a fresh application.

I will say the balm was very moisturizing and made my lips feel better if they were chapped.  I have other clear, more classic balms that are more moisturizing and less sticky than this though.  I liked that it gave a slight liveliness to my face without looking like I had anything wild going on with my mouth.  

This photo hints at the beauty which is Colourpop's Monster Highlighter, more to come on that soon

In my head I characterize this as a cool pink, but in comparisons I found it to be more neutral than truly blue-based.  Below are swatches from left to right of Lipstick Queen's Pink Bluff, Urban Decay's Illicit, L'Oreal Rose Elixir, Nyx Rose, Benefit's Posietint, and Lipstick Queen's Hello Sailor.  

Pink Bluff is the closest in shade, but quite a bit more pigmented than Rose Elixir.  On my lips it does not give the same high gloss finish, but is quite hydrating as well.  Posietint is also similar, although a bit more blue-based.  On my lips it looks much brighter and, while sheer in it's own way, packs far more of a punch than Rose Elixir.  

Nyx Rose is an opaque and garishly pastel shade which really bears no similarity.  I thought they would be much closer in color family, but seeing them swatched side by side was obviously mistaken.  Hello Sailor I knew would be different but it gives such a similar effect in the wash of color when on the lips with a healthy glow I was curious to see if they would look remotely related in arm swatches.  They don't.  

The biggest flaw I have with Rose Elixir is it's longevity.  It lasts all of about 4 heartbeats on the lips.  Below is a photo of my lips 30 minutes and half a glass of water after application.  

You can see that already much of the shine is gone and most of the minimal color has disappeared as well.  I just don't have the ability to reapply lipstick throughout my day.  I do appreciate that it fades so naturally and evenly, but find it a little impractical.  When I introduced this product in my project pan post I explained that I like wearing it out to bars because I can reapply without a mirror or any focus.  It's a nice color for a barely MLBB look, but I found the gloss finish could be sicky and I just don't have the time to reapply often enough to keep the product on my lips.  Here is a photo fully an hour after application.  

It's as if the product never even existed.  An exciting physical conundrum of the black hole that apparently is my lips.  For this reason, I won't be repurchasing.  However, I will give brownie points to L'Oreal for an adorably mystical sounding name.  I like the idea of getting a Rose Elixir in the form of makeup, much like a magical healing potion for the lips.  Please keep up this naming pattern rather than the silly route of Crush and Pout and Simper that drugstore lipsticks so often fall victim to.  

Year Long Projects to Use Things Up

I have already introduced my project pan that I will keep until the end of the year.  I also have two other projects that cycle with the beginning (or end if you prefer to look at life that way) of the months.  These are a project polish (the idea being stolen from Cherish on youtube, link) and a pan that palette (another youtube inspiration, this time from Amber F - link).  My polishes are limited to 5-7 bottles with replacements being added in when I finish a polish.  So far the kill count is at 1, but two are close.  The polish I finished was Julep's Alaina:

Alaina is the taupe-y purple on the left

Here is where I am currently with project, as of October 1.  

Nails Inc. George Street is a soft dirty pink.  It has been my go-to semi-professional color.  If I am meeting somebody new at school or looking to act like a grownup for some reason I try to have this on my nails.  This last month I really pushed myself to get as close to using it up as possible though.   I used it a total of 5 times in September.  I suspect I will be able to finish it off in October, but have to decide if shirking variety is a price worth paying for that achievement.  

Nails Inc. Regent Street is a rich oxblood and a nice addition for fall that I still haven't worn in this project.  I will try to remedy that in October and apply this enough that use can be discerned by looking at the bottle.  I am a bit nervous about this shade as deep reds have a tendency to stain my nails.  That said, I am so rarely without nail polish it really isn't that big of a deal and I should just get over it.  I have (despite the photo evidence) worn this polish before and had no problems with it as far as general formula.  I added this color to the project to replace Alaina.  

Julep's creatively named Julep was a freebie in the September box which suckered me into not skipping for a month.  Because I didn't want to relegate any new polishes I was excited about to immediate disuse, I added it to the project.  I only used it once in September, but enjoy the color and finish.  It was perfect for the last warmth of summer that stretched well into September. I am a bit nervous I will struggle to feel inspired to wearing such a bright summery color now that the weather has (finally) taken a colder turn.

Julep's Zoey was also in the box that I was tempted into ordering for September.  I threw it into the project as an option to spice things up, but have yet to wear it.  I really like the color, which was showing up oddly in photos, a nice light blue.  It could lean either icey or springtime pastel depending on one's mood.  This month I will try to test the waters with this polish.  

Princess Grace, also from Julep (I have a million Julep polishes you guys, they are what got me into decent polish which is what lead me to makeup, so the company owes me money and freetime) is a creamsicle orange.  I started this whole personal challenge in May when summer was just beginning to blossom and this seemed like an appropriate color.  It looks a little out of season now, but the boyfriend loves orange (which continues to strike me as a strange favorite color) and will be happy to see me wear this.  I hope to use it up by the end of the year as I don't really consider myself an orange polish girl (much to his eternal dismay) and don't need this in my collection.  As far as oranges go, I appreciate the softness in this shade that makes it wearable.  

Winter from Julep is an appropriately named soft grey.  It really does evoke the images of sleety skies, the shade I associate with absolutely everything around about March.  I have only used it twice since starting the project so not doing so hot there.  Once George Street is gone though, it will be the least offensive color left standing.  

Nan is my secret namesake for my grandmother alterego.  The color is a softened brick red, no real vibrancy but hints of warmth underneath rather than being a lighter blood red.  I really like this color and like having a playful red rather than a more sultry cousin from the color family (Regent Street fills that void if the mood strikes).  My photo is showing up every so slightly more orange (oranger?) than the polish appears to my eyes in person.  

Revlon's Minted was a much sought after polish for me years ago.  Around 2009 mint was having a huge moment, at least in my little life.  I wanted the perfect mint nail polish so badly, but was completely unaware of anything outside of the drugstore.  Revlon was my answer with a sparkle-free mint cream.  This is not the best formula and I will fully admit to hating the shape of the bottle.  I have plenty of product left but may be nearing my last use with it because it is so hard to get polish out from the wide base.  Since buying this polish I have purchased many other mints I like just as much in shade with superior quality.  This was another color I added in to replace Alaina, after feeling somewhat stymied by the limited variety.  

I do not know the name of the OPI mini, it came in a set of brights.  I don't love the formula and use it solely as a toenail color.  It looks good and does not chip from there, but I doubt images of my feet will ever grace this blog.   Use your imagination and pretend I have model feet (whatever those look like).  

Last but not least is a Nina Pro polish in Cobalt.  This does stain my nails horribly but it is gorgeous.  I get compliments every time I wear this bright rich blue.  I also love the brush on this polish, it is very wide and helps minimize the colossal mess I make when doing my nails.  I will also add that it does not smell great, I think this might be from being an older polish and potentially not 3-free.  It might be completely 3-free as well, I never bothered looking it up because the chemicals in nail polish don't freak me out too much.  I am not pregnant with anybody and that strikes me as the most dangerous they are going to get.  

I started this project because I have so much polish (over 100 bottles, ugh who am I?) that choosing colors can be overwhelming and I felt like I never got to know them very well.  Starting January first I will change up this project to attempting to wear every color I own at least once and writing up short reviews as I go.  No promises on how well that will work, it might turn into more of a personal project with occasional comments for real stand outs and duds.  As far as quick notes about my polishing ways, I change the color up 2 to 3 times a week.  I find that painting my nails while reading a paper keeps me from getting up and distracting myself with household tasks.  I use thinner in my polishes when they get thick, quick dry drops to save time and prevent smudging, and top/base coat always.  

My second project is trying to use up as much of an eye shadow palette as possible.  I picked the Naturally Pretty Celebration palette from It Cosmetics, released last holiday season.  It is no longer available in stores, but they do have another in this line out for the holidays this year as well as the permanent original version.  Below is what a google image search turned up for the palette:

Link to the blog this was taken from, I did not read the post just took the photo

I love the mattes in this palette.  They work well for my daily needs, despite perhaps not being THE.MOST.PIGMENTED.EVER.  They never apply patchily while rarely looking overdone with proper blending.  I am so fair that sometimes overdone pigmentation can be a curse as much as a blessing.  

Here is where I am at with this palette today after near daily use since January 1st:

The single is an Ulta shadow in the shade Bone which I added to the project after I used up the light shades in the palette (all 2 of them).  Warm Wishes was the first shadow to go and easily the best color in the lot.  I don't harbor any ill will towards the others, but Warm Wishes was beautiful and I miss it.

Arm swatches without flash, starting with the top row on the left

I started this project because I wanted to try to actually use up eye shadows.  I have an overly large variety that can easily be neglected, but find that project pans motivate me to actually use things and enjoy them.  I have also been pleasantly surprised that an unexpected side effect of this project was an improved application of eye shadow by my clumsy self.  I am growing more comfortable using a variety of colors and more colors at once in a look.  Hopefully that technique improvement will continue, especially when I expand back into wearing non-matte shades.  

Arm swatches with flash, same order as above

I am glad I have no way to repurchase this palette so I don't have to wrestle with that idea at the end of the year.  I will admit to being sorely tempted by The Romantics palette, this year's Naturally Pretty holiday offering.  Perhaps I will allow myself to pick it up on black Friday if Ulta has a good gift with purchase bag and I am placing an order.  I don't know yet what I will do with the unfinished shades at the end of the year, perhaps an attempt to use a Z palette will commence.  The four darkest shades are basically useless to me and I can throw them out with no guilt, but the more midtone ones I would not mind keeping.  These shadows are fairly easy to dupe, but this year I have appreciated having them all in the same palette.  In my FOTDs this is, as a general rule, where my shadow will be coming from.  

Both of these projects get at this strange pull again that I find exists in the makeup community right now.  I enjoy reading the makeuprehab subreddit because I appreciate the honest feedback from people not getting swept up in newly released hype.  That being said, I also find the community can run a little to the extreme.  I don't want to destash or declutter half of my collection just to have it be smaller.  I want to teach myself to love and appreciate and use it.  However, I am also not one of those people who has hundreds of eye shadows and struggles to do an eye look more than once a week.  I accept that I have far more makeup than the average human being on this planet.  But I do try to use all of my products and for the most part all of the variety brings me joy.  These projects just help me to focus my attention to ultimately get that strange sense of satisfaction that comes from entirely using up a product and feeling you got all of the bang your buck could give.  I also would like to mention that in contrast to the subreddit where I creepily lurk, I actively participate on ourbeautytalk.com.  It is a smaller community with a fairly active no-buy group which can move toward the philosophical realm about why we buy and are secretly obsessed with beauty as a consumable.  If the board interests you, I highly recommend joining - it is a place that is full of support and unabashed comradery around makeup.