Small MAC Haul & Reviews

Hello my lovelies!! For the first time I was evaluated by a MAC MUA to tell me what color foundation I am. Drum roll please....I'm a NW30!!! I certainly expected something darker, but I guess not! Here are the items I walked out with on November 15th. 

Click on the pics to enlarge :)

I have a few words on some of these items

I love the Select Sheer Pressed Powder in NW30

I am returning the Select SPF15 Foundation in NW30, my face was a butterball after 4 hours...

I love MAC's Satin l/s in Snob, I think it dries out my lips, but I doubt it, I just need to drink more water

MAC's Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Springsheen, I truly like this blush, it doesn't show up on me very well with one stroke, it does take a little more work than my Nars Orgasm blush does for it to show up.

The MAC Do-The-Trick Buff & Line Brush Set is a no go for me, the only thing worth keeping is the 209SE (eye liner brush). Complaints? Let me start by saying I've never been a brush snob, I've always just used brushes from all the GWP's I would receive every few years or I'd use whatever the specific product would provide for me, the only brushes I can say that have NEVER failed me to date, are Smashbox, I only knew of Smashbox through QVC and wrongly assumed it wasn't a huge brand...now that I compare it to these brushes, I can see Smashbox is bigger than I thought! I will have to do a post on my brushes...anyways, I always get off on a tangent...back to the compaints...

The 187SE (duo fibre face brush) is what I was most excited about, sadly it was a huge disappointment. It sheds at least 10 fibers in just applying foundation, I washed this brush everyday per the MAC MUA and I would lose fibers as I'd wash it too (about 5-6). So I spoke to the MAC counter manager and she explained it really shouldn't do that unless you never wash it, she advised me to exchange it, I think I'll just return it. =/ 

Now let's talk about the 168SE (angled contour brush), I can't say this is a bad brush per se, it's pretty full but it's not so soft, it's kind of rough, too rough to be called MAC IMHO. Maybe that's the point? I've felt soft stiff brushes, stiff shouldn't equate rough. 

The 252SE (shader brush) is a strange size for me, I just can't seem to find a purpose for it, I have really small eye lids...so I need really small e/s brushes. On top of it being useless to me, it's very scratchy and stiff. By the posts I've read on spektra, it seems like it's b/c it's SE. So if you're interested in a large shader brush, go to your closest MAC counter or order it online (the standard sized brush, not the SE) and let me know how it turns out!

Sadly this turned out to be much longer than I expected...so thanks for listening to me ramble on and on!

Much love and let me know if you too think these SE brushes are worthless simply b/c MAC skimps on quality on SE's.

Oh, forgot to mention, the bag is cute, but it wrinkled on me within a day or two...not so fond of that! I guess it's the cheap manmade material =/

BTW - my car engine died and Lexus is replacing it (since they don't know what happened...), I've been driving around this beauty for almost 2 weeks and I don't want to give it back tomorrow (I pick it up tomorrow)

Bring out your shovels! Plus a TJ Maxx Haul

First some pictures from Saturday's snow! I took the pics coming back from breakfast with Roxanna @ Panera Bread.

Here's some of my TJ Maxx Haul

So far I love the Blush, not so much the gloss, way too bright to wear alone and I'm not too fond of the super thick consistency, I'll most likely be using it to tone down lip colors. (But it was a total bargain!!!) 

I don't remember the exact prices of the facial creams, but I think it was $10 each. The Elizabeth Arden Peel was $17 and let me say I LOVE this product. I want to do a full review later. 

Then comes the handbag, I hadn't bought one in a few months (that's a long time for me), I saw a hot pink bag and I had to grab it to brighten up the cold we're bracing now, it was a bargain too, $20.

Anyone else find NARS at a discount store (i.e. Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx)?

xoxo

ELF Studio Brush Daily Cleaner & Shampoo Review

I have used the following two products for the last two weeks.

Daily Brush Cleaner

FYI-I purchased two of these Daily Brush Cleaners and one of them came leaking, the other wasn't.

Pros: Does the job for just about anything you would put on your brushes. I had trouble cleaning my lip brush used for my MAC Angel, nor the Daily Brush Cleaner or the Brush Shampoo cleaned it (at all). Cons: The fruity scent, I don't mind it much, but I have a good feeling it would be too much for most people (it's quite intense). All you have to do is spray the brush about 4 times and then you wipe the brush on a towel and lay it out to dry, it dries pretty fast (depending on the brush obviously).

Brush Shampoo

Pros: Cleans my e/s brushes in one wash. Cons: I can't say washing my brushes once with this shampoo cleaned my brushes completely, it probably took 2 or 3 separate washes to completely clean my brushes, I think I'll stick to using normal shampoo =/. Best way to use this is to first wet the brush, take a quarter sized amount of shampoo on your hand or in a glass bowl (that's what I use) and you just work the brush into the shampoo then rinse. Repeat if needed.

Both items cost $3, so they're quite affordable. I know I'll go back for the Daily Brush Cleaner, I doubt I'll go back for the Shampoo.

Anyone else use these products yet?

xoxo

Lunch out with the girls

Monika, Jessica and I ventured out to Don Pollo around where we work together. Every time I am with these girls, things go too far, lol. I love them, here's a short story on our lunch outing via photos (since I'm a camera whore...).

Here Moni wasn't ready, LOL

Here's the DIVA of the year straight cheesin!!

 Here I caught Jessica off guard!

Moni, AGAIN! lol

We may be small, but we can sure put it away!

 Here it looks like I picked up a crackhead from the corner and bought them lunch, lol

I will never ever forget this photo, ROFL

Then she assumed we'd get her plates since she did ours last time!!

Now you're just going to see random pics, lol...I love taking pics of everything and most of all, myself!

I hope you liked taking a trip down one of our exciting lunch journeys!

BTW - Monika just picked herself up some boots I have been lemming forever now! Take a look!

Can we say HOT!!!!

xoxo

Also, Project Danielle is hosting a giveaway! Click here to sign up!!

(Ends 12/31/09)

Small Target Haul

So I was reading all these blog posts talking about ecotools brush sets and how soft they were, us bloggers are such enablers so I dived in and purchased it from target.com (since my store was all sold out).

Here's what I picked up!

Ecotools by Alicia Silverstone Bamboo 5 piece brush set earth friendly and cruelty free ($14.99)

Includes:

1. Blush Brush
2. Finishing (or Stippler) Brush
3. Angled Eyeshadow Brush
4. Lash & Brow Groomer
5. Earth-friendly Hemp/cotton Cosmetic Bag

Please click on the pics to enlarge them 

 Here it is in the packaging!

The back

 The cosmetic bag!

 The inside :)

 

Here's a few looks at the Finishing Brush (which was one of the main reasons I picked this up!)

 

 Ecotools Bamboo 5 piece brush set ($9.99)

-cruelty free hair

-natural & recycled materials

-convenient travel size

5 piece set includes:

1. Mineral Powder Brush
2. Concealer Brush
3. Eye Shading Brush
4. Baby Kabuki
5. Cosmetic Bag
   

 Packaging is just a thick plastic sheet that can be opened and resealed, like a ziplock bag!

 Here are the brushes and the little bag it comes with!

 What do I think of the brushes so far? So far, I noticed how remarkably soft these brushes are (all of them, no exception whatsoever)! They're pretty dense considering the price point. I have already used the angled e/s brush, it feels sooo good on my lids, nothing like the e/s brush from my mac holiday brush set (still haven't posted that mac haul). I have also used the Blush Brush, that too is just wonderful, very soft and does the job! Another good thing is they didn't smell of strange chemicals straight of the packaging like the ELF one's did (the 11 piece studio brush set).

Any one else own an ecotools product? Do tell pretty please!!