It isn’t actually the end of August yet, but I believe I can wrap up my beauty balance in this post.

First of all, I did place an order. Here’s the thing, despite wanting to stay beauty balanced each month, more things leaving than arriving, I have also stated that the one thing I won’t quit purchasing are eyeshadow palettes. My reality, and passion for makeup, lies there. It’s like a lovely yarn stash, having a variety sparks creativity.

So, I got a tiny palette I’ve been craving since it appeared on the scene some time ago now. It’s the viseart petite pro 5 soleil. The color story of this palette is so rich and expressive and I am so excited to use it.

Naturally, it came with samples. So, that’s another 4, making me off balance by 9.

No matter. I have been working through my stash this month. I am working on decluttering some things that I don’t need or want. Some go to Miss Butterfly, some to her friend who loves makeup but doesn’t have a mom who is participating in it. Of course, I’ve also got empties.

Let’s go over the empties really quick first. I finished a fancy shampoo for my itchy pre-cut hair which never helped in the end. I finished a tiny sample of mattifying face primer from smith & cult. This was weird and black. It worked. I wouldn’t purchase it. I like my becca ever matte better. I finished an eyeshadow I was using to set my eye primer, it was from morphe. I finished a perfume sample, Marc Jacobs Daisy eau so fresh. This had zero lasting power on me, while the scent was nice it didn’t stick. And, I finished an AOA studios tinted brow gel. I liked it quite a lot and for a buck, it was entirely worth it. I’ll probably repurchase once I work through other things in my collection.

Now on to the declutters. Miss Marja gave me the burt’s bees lippie, but I don’t love it so I’ll pass it along. There are three little eyeshadows I am decluttering. Each has been fairly well-loved by Miss Butterfly and me. Nice dips in each of them. But, I wore each of them recently, swatched them by colors I have in palettes, and identified that I don’t need these in my collection. I also have a morphe gel liner that I want to remove and then a perfume sample, Lancome la vie est belle, that every time I open I realize I just really dislike. I must have some odd association with this one as it just brings up unpleasant feelings. So, that goes too.

That’s 11 products out. 2 over what came in this month. So we are balanced.

I, of course, have an upcoming project pan update for this weekend. But, I was thinking that I might also do a post about subscription boxes. I would kind of like to round up the products I still have that I received in subscription boxes and really truly love. And then discuss some observations from my year of subscription boxes and how I feel about what I received. Maybe this weekend, maybe next week, not quite sure yet. But, I think it may be a worthwhile post.

I’ve got another beauty balance post before the finale. During the last post I expressed that I needed 3 items to leave my collection to be on balance.

And then I picked up two things at Ulta and received with it a whole load of samples. Seriously. A load.

I wanted to try a different mousse as the one I am using isn’t my fave. I will use it up, but I was absolutely not getting the results I wanted. And, I am quite close to finishing both of my eye creams which I am using simultaneously. So, I wanted to be sure to get a new eye cream. Not something I want to be out of.

Here’s my load of samples. One of them I did not count, it was dry shampoo I gave directly to Miss Butterfly. Here are the rest.

I think the majority of these samples I’ll have no trouble using. However, the mascara and the buxom lip paint are on the chopping block. I may let them go, we’ll see.

And then, I went to spend a little time with Miss Marja and she decluttered two items to me.

I think it’s likely that the lip item will stay with me, but the eyeshadow I’ll try, and if it doesn’t work for me it’ll go to Miss Butterfly.

So, that’s another 13 items in, making it a total of 16 items I need to move out of my collection to remain in balance. I am not there yet. But, I did do a little decluttering and finishing.

I’ve got 11 items leaving. I finished a FAB face cleanser that was lovely. I finished a Briogeo scalp revival that I don’t think did anything at all. I finished a sample of Mad Hippie vitamin A serum which I was unable to develop an opinion about. I finally decided my Laura Lee Party Animal palette I received in a boxy charm could leave. I hate the palette and if I want to use bright colors, I’ll use Miss Butterfly’s BH cosmetics take me back to brazil palette. I had 2 lip items from my brights challenge that I want to release from my collection, they’ll be going to Miss Butterfly’s friend along with the LL palette.

I finished a Coola sunscreen I got in a fab fit fun. I hated it, it pilled and balled under makeup and over moisturizer no matter what I did. I finished it by using it as a body sunscreen. I am moving 2 sample size dry shampoos to Miss Butterfly as using them isn’t necessary with short hair. One is almost finished anyhow. I finished more makeup remover wipes from Big Lots, I like them but I am trying to use fewer makeup wipes in general. And finally, I’ve got a hair spray that I purchased for Miss Butterfly a few years ago, it had a few sprays left and now it’s gone.

That means I still have to finish or declutter 5 more items this week. I’ve got two that I think are sure bets, and I pulled out a bunch of makeup that could be on my chopping block so I can see if I want to remove them from my collection. I’ll use those this week and make a decision by the end of the week.

So, I am not yet beauty balanced this month but I am feeling fairly confident that I can still get there.

And this brings us to my last two days of my self inflicted bright lips challenge.

Yesterday I wore Beauty Creations matte liquid lipgloss. This is something I received in a boxycharm pretty early on in the time when I signed up. I wore it once and never again. I think we all know that matte liquid lipgloss is an oxymoron to begin with and the formulation is no better than the strangeness of the name.

I have to give it some credit for really sticking around. But, the reality is that it’s one of those flakey formulas that dries out the lips and simultaneously always feels sticky. It’s not something I have any interest in keeping in my collection. This one will find a new home. I think one of Miss Butterfly’s friends might like to have it.

And then there’s today, last day! Today I am wearing a NYX intense butter gloss. I panned a sample size intense butter gloss in a purple shade that I absolutely loved. I wished to find the same formula and color, but I did not find the proper color. Instead I picked up a very dark berry shade called spice cake. It’s got a purple tone to it, but it’s not the purple I was looking for. Because of this, I only wore it once since I purchased it. I rather wish I had just purchased an intense butter gloss in a more nude tone. So, I hauled it out for the last day of my little challenge.

I like it! I like it quite a lot. I really like the intense pigmentation paired with a really comfortable formula. I’d say this is similar to a liquid lipstick that doesn’t dry down rather than a gloss. It does try to creep out of the lip line a bit but I am trying to combat that with lip liner today. This is 100% staying in my collection and I may actually keep it at work for when I am feeling adventurous.

Also, we’ve finally reached the stage in my latest haircut where my hair actually does what I want it to do! What a relief. I am learning that post hair cut it takes about a week, and then I am in the clear for 4 weeks before the short sides get so long they annoy me and I need it cut again.

So, anyhow, next week I’ll be back to project pan lip products for the last week before my update. And back to regular eye looks, though it has been fun to do simplicity with my eye looks these past two weeks. But, I think perhaps in October I am going to do another little similar challenge where I wear all my exceedingly dark colors. Perhaps I’ll line that up to end on Haloween so I can wear my one black lipstick that day. Should be fun!

Earlier this month I was two items leaving over what entered my collection. I’ve been pretty bad at balancing my beauty this month. Or at least keeping up on the posts. Or really, both. I have brought a surprising amount into my collection actually.

Here are two snapshots of what I brought in this month. I decided that I hate soap brows. I hate that it is sticky forever when I do my brows with soap. I’ve decided it’s not for me. But, I also didn’t want to spend large amounts on a clear brow gel, so I picked up a L’oreal brow gel. The wand is sooooo tiny on this! I will probably try something else once this is used up, but for now I am happy.

I also HAD to pick up the Essence lash princess waterproof version. It’s great, in the sense it does all that the other lash princess mascaras do. And it doesn’t irritate my eyes. But-it transfers on my brow bone. Here’s the thing, my lashes touch my brow bone, and it must be oily enough to transfer even a waterproof mascara, because this happens with my clinique one too. But, in a much lighter capacity. So in the end, I need to just stick with the clinique one and call it good.

I ran out of hair mousse so I picked one up from Morrocan oil. And then it came with samples and perks, because that’s just what happens. One of those perks is the Ren calming facemask, I worked through one earlier in the year and adored it. So, I picked another one up.

Not pictured, but purchased-3 wet n wild eyeshadow singles in creme brulee for setting primer. And, one emergency waterproof drugstore mascara I bought on my way to work because I’d done a full face of makeup and forgot mascara. That will stay at work. So that’s 11 items into my collection over what has left it this month.

Let’s balance that a bit! Here’s what we have that we can get back on track a bit with:

My Moroccan Oil dry texture spray is a staple in my hair routine. It was a staple when my hair was long and it’s equally a staple now that it’s short. I will repurchase this. I am working through one from another brand, but I don’t like it nearly as much. I do have a Moroccan Oil back up in my collection.

The mousse is something I’ve had around for wayyyy too long! I purchased this back when my daughter was doing show choir. When I cut my hair, I figured I’d use this up before moving on to something else. There was a month’s worth of product in it, so I am glad I committed to that. I am currently using a higher-end brand but actually, don’t like it as much. So this could be a repurchase, we’ll see!

Skin & Co Face Gommage-this came in a subscription box. I did not love it. I used it. It did smell very nice, very gently almond. I wouldn’t purchase.

Below that is Laura Mercier translucent setting powder. I loved this! This controls oil very nicely. It’s part of my project pan and I am very sad to see it finished. I would repurchase but I’ve got a heck of a lot of other powder to get through first. I estimate it’ll be at least a year before I have to purchase setting powder.

The Murad retinol lasted me forever! It was my first retinol product and I slowly built up use. I used this every other day for months on end. I am a bit sad it’s gone! I got this in an add on sale for a subscription box. I have another retinol I’ll use up before I make a decision about what to try next or if I want to repurchase this one.

The e.l.f. liquid lipstick got discussed last week. Pretty and bright color, drying, flakes off the lips, layers terribly. Would not purchase.

I have a bite beauty agave lip mask. This is the original flavor and I like it best. I’ve got a couple of these in other flavors, but I don’t like them nearly as much. I would repurchase, but I gotta work through a bunch of others first.

Ellis Brooklyn Myth perfume sample. Scent was nice, but didn’t last. Would not purchase.

That’s 8 items leaving my collection. This means I’ve got to have 3 more out of my collection by the end of the month. I am awfully close on at least one cleanser, and with the Murad retinol gone, I can get a foil packet finished up. We shall see how it goes….

Let’s continue on this two-week bright lipstick journey, shall we?

For reference, these are the colors I am working with.

Yesterday I wore kat von d liquid lipstick in the color mother. It’s a nice matte raspberry shade that I received in a boxycharm. I have never worn it because upon receiving so many subscription boxes, I was kind of inundated with lip products for a time. Additionally, matte liquid lips aren’t my go-to formula. With the influx of lip items now at a standstill, it’s nice to get the opportunity to explore this one as well as the others I’ve never worn.

We are moving away from the hot pinks this week and into more berry tones but still bright and not at all “nude” lipsticks.

I am still doing my two-color bronzer and shimmer eye look but I admit it is beginning to bore me. I look forward to the point at which I get through all of those and can get back to creating more dramatic looks.

In any case, I am definitely keeping this lipstick in my collection. While I wouldn’t purchase more of them, both the formulation and color are good and I am happy with it.

Day 7:

Today’s lip look is Nyx liquid suede. I got this in my advent calendar last year. The color is Starstruck. This one is a deep berry that leans toward red.

How do I feel about this one? I think the liquid suede formula is ok. It dries down matte, but sometimes I feel like it stays a bit sticky. And I don’t think it’s a good one to layer. So, typically after lunch, I end up wiping it off and choosing something else. That has been the case when I use other liquid suede formula colors as well. So, I guess you could say that while I am perfectly ok with wearing what I have, I won’t be out there collecting more. Which is fair!

Just three more days of brights! Then I’ll be getting back to my project pan colors.

I am so enjoying my little challenge. Getting to know some lipsticks I rarely wear is such a great experience. Add to that my little challenge of simpler and more neutral eye looks, and I am just having a great week! To top off the week, tonight is hair cut night and I am thrilled!

Today’s bright is a bit out of order because I just don’t feel like wearing a drying liquid lipstick. Today’s selection is Trestique lip glaze in mumbai magenta. It’s a nice moisturizing and slightly sheer formula, exactly the type of product I really go for.

While it is bright, it doesn’t seem overwhelmingly bright like some of the previous lip products this week. It’s also extremely easy to wear. This product is a mini, I think I got it in an ipsy bag. So, I think this one is going to end up in a project pan next spring/summer. I don’t think it would take any time at all to pan, and I’d enjoy every moment of it while I was at it. I also don’t think it would take long, there’s just not much product in it.

That’s it for this week, we’ll see what next week brings!

Today’s bright lip is Ofra’s Santorini. I received this in a subscription box some time ago and have never worn it. However, I love ofra’s liquid lipstick formula, so I knew that part wouldn’t be a problem. The problem I had was with the description. It’s described as a berry pink with a metallic finish. That doesn’t immediately pique my interest, so I never bothered to put it on. Until now.

This is a little darker than yesterday’s fearless fuschia color. It also has a subtle iridescence. It does not come across as metallic at all. This is absolutely for the best according to me. It almost looks like it has a bit of a color shift going on, the iridescence is blue and lends a very interesting look to the lips. To be honest, this isn’t ofra’s best formula, it’s a bit sheer. But, it does mimic the comfort of their regular liquid lip formula, which makes me happy.

Today I just want to give a shout out to my mac pro longwear foundation. The color I am using is NW18 which is dark for me unless quite tanned. I haven’t been able to find pro longwear foundation in the color that most works for me on a winter skin day. But, I put the foundation on at 5:30 in the morning yesterday, I was out all day at work and then a road trip to see a concert, and didn’t get home until midnight. That foundation looked almost as good at midnight as it did when I put it on in the morning. I could not believe it! I did blot after work, but I did not add powder, just a setting spray. I ate meals, I wiped my nose, I didn’t coddle the foundation at all. And it still looked fantastic. It’s clearly the perfect foundation for me. (I did wear becca ever matte primer underneath in my t-zone, which I do think helps in the summer, and, it was not a hot day so that helped.)

That’s it for today. One more hot pink tomorrow and then we begin to work our way through slightly darker berry tones next week. I am looking forward to it!

It’s another day, another bright lipstick.

Just before we move on to today, let’s talk about yesterday’s e.l.f. liquid lipstick. I thought I liked it and would keep it, but by noon it was flaking off and falling on my chin. I don’t like drying matte liquid lipsticks enough to keep them if they don’t perform perfectly. So, that one got discussed with Miss Butterfly who said she didn’t want it back, and she didn’t think any of her friends would want it either. I am free to toss it, so it went in the beauty balance bin.

Today’s choice is L’Oreal infallible lip paints in fearless fuschia. This is a color I purchased because I like hot pink. I wore it a bunch at the beginning of summer 2018. And then didn’t touch it again because I got distracted by all the incoming lip products in my collection. Also, hot pink is not a color that screams fall/winter, you know? I don’t typically feel like I need to change the colors I use according to the season, but something about hot pink just screams late spring/summer.

How do I feel about this lipstick? I really like it. I love that it doesn’t dry down, it’s more of a lipstick lipstick than a liquid lipstick. A lipstick bordering on a highly pigmented gloss, just not as glossy and thick. I like it quite a lot and it will definitely be staying in my collection for now. The biggest complaint is that it gives me a slight sore throat like many lipsticks tend to do. So, if that becomes intolerable, or if I find a better solution during my bright lipstick wearing challenge, I may reconsider.

Here’s a funny story to add to today’s post. I am still doing that two eyeshadow look I discussed yesterday and really loving it. Well, I ended up getting up super early this morning. I was a bit annoyed at this because I have a VERY long day today and will be busy late into the evening. I wanted to get as much sleep as possible but that just didn’t happen for me. So I decided I’d be productive with my extra time instead. I did my makeup and hair, got dressed, cleaned the kitchen and got a load of dishes started, dealt with the dogs’ morning routine, packed for lunch, etc. It was one of those mornings where despite waking up early I ended up running a bit late because I was trying to fit in all the things. I kept catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror and thinking “I love this eyeshadow look but man do my eyes look small and weird!” About halfway to work, I figured it out, I’d completely forgotten to put on mascara. And I am not at all joking when I say I stopped at a drugstore on the way to work to pick up mascara to keep at work for days like this! I totally did that.

I guess I had a lovely weekend playing in my makeup stash, because after I pulled out all the bright lipsticks and decided to use them for two weeks straight, I ended up pulling out eyeshadows to mess around with for two weeks straight. More specifically, I decided I wanted to do my easy look. It’s one I often use when I am in a rush and haven’t the time to spend on makeup as I usually would. Typically I do the look using a colourpop supershock shadow, but I realized that I can also do the look with other single shadows in my collection.

A quick overview of the look-I just use a bronzer, preferably a matte bronzer, in my crease and under my lower lash line. Then, I pop the color on the lid and call it good. It always comes out looking so pulled together while still being an extremely fast look. I love it. But I’ve never tried it with plain shimmers in my collection, I’ve always just done this with supershock shadows.

Knowing that I was looking at 2 weeks of bright lip looks, I figured I’d pull out two weeks worth of shimmery singles in my collection that are fairly neutral and just do this for 2 weeks straight.

For reference, here are the swatches and lipsticks. (Save for one ofra liquid lip I failed to put in the photo. )

Day 1:

The lip color is Lancome Absolue lip lacquer. The color is a bright berry-toned red. Miss Butterfly brought me this lipstick from a friend’s stash. None of them thought they’d have any interest in wearing such a bright color. That bright a color on Miss Butterfly or her friend would not be typical. I tried it once around the house but never got around to wearing it out of the house.

With this one, I did use a red lip liner as I assumed that the color would bleed. The product needs a lot of building to get it to have coverage. I love how it continues to look very shiny. It stayed nicely for half the day and then I began to see a bit of bleeding outside the lip lines. That did not increase throughout the day. I will say that I am amazed at how shiny this product stays no matter what I do to it. Lacquer is absolutely the correct description for it. I think I would truly appreciate this formula in a more nude color. However, I would not purchase it, as it’s just too expensive. Also, it takes 3-4 layers to get it to not look streaky, and even then, it can settle a bit and then the lip lines don’t have color in them at all, causing yet another application to smooth that out. So, it’s a formula that can need a bit of babysitting, at least upon initial application.

Overall, it’s not my favorite formula but I’ll keep it for now.

Day 2:

e.l.f. collab with Christian Siriano. This is a matte liquid lip in the color fuschia. This is one of those solid dry down liquid lipsticks that look cruddy until they dry. So, during application, I am all hating life and then if I just let it set I realize it looks great. I am really digging this color, it’s a good hot pink and I love a hot pink lip. I really imagined that this one, which I got from Miss Butterfly and never wore, would be something I’d declutter. Not so. This is a definite “stay in my collection because I need this in my life” lipstick. Despite the fact that I don’t actually wear a hot pink lip often.

So, after 2 days of this challenge, I am not actually removing anything from my collection despite having hoped that I would! I guess what I really know is that I do not need any MORE super bright colors in my collection, but I think that isn’t new news for me.

I’ll keep posting these and trying to keep up on them as I have time rather than saving them for one long post.

Hi all!

It’s been a bit and I haven’t brought back my 3 color challenge like I said I would for last week. I am just not feeling it. Which is fine! I enjoyed taking last week and just using various palettes in my collection each day and not worrying about taking photos of the look. While I had considered doing my 3 color challenge this upcoming week, I realized I still wasn’t up for it.

Yesterday I was messing around in my makeup collection. I was trying to get a really good handle on what I own, how much of each item, etc. I have come to the realization that I definitely don’t need more highlighters! I am eager to cross stuff off my lists as I whittle down my collection to something more manageable and not out of control. My collection can’t really be described as out of control, but it was growing in that direction and I want to make sure I don’t get there.

I pulled out some highlighters I haven’t been giving any attention to and added them to a pile so that I could get use out of them this week. These are highlighters that all require more tanned skin which is what I have now. So, I am going to give them a go, rather than just using that which is in my Too Faced Natural Face palette which also has highlighters that look good on my more tanned skin.

But really, that’s not the point of this post. I had been thinking about lip colors. You see, everything in my project pan right now is nude or leans toward orange. And I thought about how I really love a hot pink lip in the summer but I haven’t worn one at all this season. So then I listed out all my lip colors. (There are 45, but a ton of them are sample sizes, and I definitely haven’t felt a need to purchase lip colors recently.)

I pulled out all the hot pink and pink bold colors. And then all the other colors in that general tone. I’ve got 10 of them.

I swatched them. Then I took a photo of them:

Over the next two weeks, I am going to use one a day to see how the formulas are and what I think of each of them. I may even let go of some of them at the end of the two weeks. There are definitely ones in here that I have never worn. And if I have worn them, it’s like only once. I think I’ll actually try to go in order left to right, that way I can keep a handle on the order. Though I can already see that I am missing one, so I need to go back into my collection and find that.

In any case, it’ll be fun to try a new little challenge for myself since I am so easily bored and after a few months of the three color challenge, I am over it.

Other stuff, it has been a very busy weekend. Miss Butterfly and I ran a million errands yesterday. It’s amazing how the dogs know I always seem to pick something up for them while I am out because they mow me down trying to figure out what is in the bags I bring home!

One of the things I brought home was a new orthopedic kennel pad for Lizzie, and a cooling mat as well. Miss Lizzie has been exhibiting some arthritic tendencies. She limps when she gets up off the hardwood floor, her preferred dog bed. She doesn’t like dog beds. I put the orthopedic kennel mat in her kennel where she can’t really escape it. Then I used her thinner mat on the floor and put the water cooling mat over top of it. It has been going about as expected, she rarely uses it. Except when I am in my craft room. She loves to lay right next to my chair when I sit in the craft room. So I moved the cooling mat there, and it’s the first time she has used it for any length of time. I am hoping that she’ll get used to it when I place it there and begin using it in other parts of the house as well.

She’s a cutie! Even if she is showing many signs of her age already. I admit that part is kind of a bummer. Hopefully, we can mitigate some of those signs to the best of our ability and have her around for many years to come.

This morning I am listening to the rain which is so much needed that I want to cheer every time it really starts to pour. Did this mess up my plans for today? Absolutely. And I have no regrets about that whatsoever. We need this sooooo badly!

Hope you have had a lovely weekend!

In July I left the beauty balance for the month without any type of finale. And that’s ok! We were on vacation, and by the time we got back it was August and I couldn’t be bothered. But, I can get us all squared away this month.

A couple of things to start us off, last month I had removed 3 eyeliners from my collection in hopes to give them to the girlfriend of my nephew in law. However, I never did get to see her on this trip. So, those 3 items came back with me. So, while I was balanced last month, I have 3 items back in my collection without even purchasing anything.

I also removed a few things from my collection. I don’t have photos because I really couldn’t be bothered to save my trash while on vacation. I went through 2 sunscreens on vacation. I also finished a sample size of Jo Malone fragrance. And, I gave a sample size of leave-in conditioner to Miss Butterfly. That’s one item leaving my collection over what entered.

I did make a purchase at the end of July that went unaccounted for as well. I purchased two CYO lifeproof foundations in 103. I had found out that CYO is going out of business, and I happened across some in a local drugstore. I’ve heard great things about the foundation, and it was buy one get one half price. The color match is perfection! I was tempted to go on a hunt for more until I realized two things. First of all, the foundation is a bit more on the dewy side than I like, especially this time of year. Second, while CYO is going out of business, Soap and Glory has come out with a foundation that is the same as CYO, since they are owned by the same company. While the Soap and Glory foundation is more expensive, it’s also available should I decide I need that CYO formula in my life.

So, that’s one item out of balance.

Here’s what is leaving my collection so far this month. I am giving the smashbox sample to Miss Butterfly. I already gave her a full size one when I decided I didn’t like it, and she does like it. No sense in forcing myself to use something I don’t enjoy just for the sake of using it.

I am also decluttering my Shop MissA paw paw sponge to Miss Butterfly. I just don’t love this sponge. It is Sooooo soft that it just seems to suck up all the product rather than moving it around on my face. I think it really wastes a lot of foundation and I’d prefer to use the other sponges in my collection. I currently have a beauty blender, a sonia kashuk sponge, and a couple of eco tools sponges. These are all preferable to the softness of the one I am decluttering to Miss Butterfly.

And finally, I am beginning a slow declutter of hair products to Miss Butterfly. I am about halfway through the conditioning hair treatment pictured above. When my hair was long I was using it as a conditioner. But with short hair, there’s no reason to have a heavy-duty conditioner in my rotation. In fact, I’d say it’s a detriment because I want my hair to have some height and volume, things which a conditioner in short hair works against. I have other conditioners and hair masks to give her, but I am going to do this one at a time. Reason being is that if she has an abundance of product, she doesn’t treat those products as precious. So, we’ll start with this one and once she’s used it up we’ll see what else she gets from my collection.

That leaves me with 2 items leaving my collection over what has entered it. I probably say this every month, but there’s nothing really on my radar right now that I need. Maybe hair product, I don’t know how long it’ll take to go through what I currently have. But for now, I am waiting to see how the month pans out. In any case, I’d like to really get a good month of empties this month before any upcoming fall sales events begin.

I am a bit late due to vacation, but I am ready now to get my July project pan update posted. It was a quarterly refresh last month, so I had the opportunity to play with a few new things. That being said, I didn’t play with nearly as many as I would typically because I was on vacation for more than a week and not really wearing makeup.

As usual, let’s start with the sample fragrances.

I ended up using two of the tiny sample sizes over the past month. The second one never made it into a beauty balance for the month because I finished it on vacation and couldn’t be bothered to bring trash back with me. So, that’ll go in an August beauty balance along with the two sunscreens we used up. Anyhow, the second I used was Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin. I loved it! The fragrance stayed all day, it was relatively unisex rather than being particularly floral, and it just was one that fit me well.

Up next, I was able to use a bit of the Becca ever matte primer, but not much. This is unsurprising, as it takes such a tiny bit of product to make a difference on the skin. More is not better in this case.

I got some of the It cosmetics cc cream worked through, but I am rolling it out as my beach vacation has me looking pretty dark. I am instead rolling in my darkest foundation shade, the Mac prolongwear foundation.

I finished up my cover FX powder, so I am rolling in my Laura Mercier powder sample. It’s not easy to see how much I have of it, so I could not mark it. I really enjoy this powder, it’s a great oily skin powder and I will probably work through it quickly this time of year.

I finished the glamglow supermud mask, and I am replacing that with the peter thomas roth exfoliating mask. There’s not much in there so it should be easy to use.

And finally, the Verb texture cream-I am getting far more use out of this than I imagined. If I don’t want to deal with my short hair in a full-on fix the look, this works great to give it a little texture and hold and I can let it air dry. I thought this would be a struggle to use up, but it doesn’t seem like it is going to be after all.

I did not take photos of the two palettes because the cream contour didn’t get used and the Too Faced natural face palette is getting used, but it doesn’t show a difference from the first photo. I’ll take a photo next month.

I finished the sample eye primer, so I am back to using the mac paint pot exclusively. I am pleased about that, I prefer it. A quick run through of the rest, I finished up a corner of the highlighter I am trying to pan, but this works best for lighter skin days, so it may not get a ton of use in the next month. I have worked quite a bit of the morphe eyeshadow I am using to set my primer away from the middle of the pan. I am still working on my bite beauty lip mask, moreso now that I had sunburned lips and am trying to treat them. I have used the nudestix lip color most of all, the nyx liquid lip not at all, and the hourglass one a tiny bit.

I added in my nyx lip pencil and used a tiny bit of it. I currently cannot find my MUFE lip pencil, so it’s fair to say that hasn’t changed since last month.

That’s about it. Though it’s Saturday and I hadn’t put on makeup at all for more than a week so I decided to play with makeup this morning. Just a simple look but I wanted to make sure my darkest foundation would work. It actually seems a bit light. But that’s good, I’ll be able to use it for awhile.

My skin has a lot of redness to it, but it isn’t burned. It should darken a bit still though. Also of note, the Laura Mercier powder does not work under my eyes, not at all. I appreciated the quiet opportunity to mess around with makeup as Miss Butterfly is hanging with her dad and Mr. Ink had to work this morning. It’s just me and the dogs, and they are snoozing.

That’s it for today. Hopefully, I’ll get another post up tomorrow morning. I am attempting to stay pretty relaxed and low-key this weekend, as I suspect that Monday back to work will be fairly brutal. But, I am also struggling with the post vacation weirdness where I don’t quite have a routine and don’t quite know what to do with myself. The dogs are suffering from the same!