Tested all my foundation samples...

...and here's the results. After testing all the ones I've picked up the past month or so (on a hunt to find the best shade match) I'm still not impressed. Argggghhhh. Again this is why it's important to test out samples. Just because it looks great in the store doesn't mean it really looks great. I tried 16 different samples from all types of brands. At the end of the day there was only one shade that I will actually do a test run on my face to try out. There were six that didn't match but were close enough that I could mix them together to get a close shade (but who wants to do all that work?). Finally, there were nine that were absolutely nos.  Sigh. So I'm back on the hunt yet again. I hope the one I liked actually looks good on me. I'm going to try it tomorrow and wear it for the day to see how it goes. Here's a pic below. On the left are the no's. On the right the maybes if you mix them. And that lone one in the middle. 

Nordstrom Mini Haul (with FREE samples!)

Last week when I was doing some Mother's Day shopping I stopped at the MAC counter and was informed that the following weekend (today) they were having an event.  With the event they were giving away gift bags/boxes with free samples with a purchase.  For MAC I don't think there was a minimum purchase amount, so I just got 2 lipsticks and a lipglass I had been eyeing.  I prepaid and all I had to do was pick it up today.  Glad I did because it was a zoo.  Makeup chairs everywhere in the beauty department, so many people. Ugh.  I like to shop in peace and quiet, when I can have an associate's undivided attention.  

So the box the samples came in is pretty cool, a super sturdy matte black box.  I'm actually glad I got this over a bag because for my trip to Cali, I could put my travel makeup in the box and not be super worried that it will be damaged at the airport.  It is really really tough. I listed the samples below, and I got a few Gucci Guilty because they know it's my current fave and I'm not ready to shell out a ton of money on perfume when I don't wear it too often.  

The items I picked up were MAC lipstick in Viva Glam II (satin finish-a light brownish purplish color) and Creme Cup (a cremesheen finish--a soft, light pink) and a lipglass in Viva Glam V.  There are sample pics below.

Free samples from my gift box:

• Thierry Mugler Alien eau de parfum
• Gucci Guilty eau de toilette
• Diptyque Eau Rose eau de toilette
• MAC Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator (super excited to try this--heard good things)
• MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara
• MAC Tan and Rose Pigment

Makeup of the Day

I meant to take a picture earlier lol, instead of this one at the end of the day when I'm tired and beat.  But here was my makeup today.  On my face I have Lancome foundation and powder, Bobbi Brown corrector, MAC studio fix concealer, Urban Decay eyeliner, Covergirl mascara. I used the Balm's Nude-Tude palette and Urban Decay's Naked palette. I LOVE this lip I did today!!! Nice and springy, but not too bright.  I put a layer of the Balm's Imma Goodkisser lipstick, on top of that MAC's Peachstock lipstick, topped off by the Balm's Cocoa my Coconut gloss.  

I really have to invest in a real camera.  The pictures on this iPhone suck.

Updated:Philosophy's Soul Owner (foot cream)

I stumbled upon this beauty at Marshall's the other day.  I'd never heard of it before, but since I love the Philosophy brand, I decided to pick it up.  At ten dollars, if it didn't work I wouldn't be too pissed.  Once I got home I googled and saw that the cream was still sold at Nordstrom and Ulta, and got pretty good reviews on both sites (and was priced at $16...go Marshall's!).

I have a trip planned to California in 2 weeks, May 31st.  My feet look a hot mess. HOT.  Totally not sandal ready.  I have hard calluses from years of excessive flip flop wear.  So I'm going to use it until that time and see how it works.  I will post before and after pics at that point too to see if there is any visible progress.  There should be after two weeks, especially considering it claims "immediate results."

UPDATE: I've taken pictures of my feet but I'm totally not posting them lol.  They look rough.  Maybe once they're better looking but as for now, I'll pass.  But after the first use I noticed significant difference in the feel of my feet.  They aren't as dry, and it moisturized better than lotion.  So hopefully the lasting result will be exfoliation of the calluses and hard spots.

Excuse the box, my daughter stepped on the bag after she knocked it on the floor.  Smh. Kids.

MAC's Temperature Rising Collection (LE)

I can't be the only person in the world over MAC and its bi-weekly "limited edition" collections, can I? Seriously, every other week there's a new collection that's limited so everyone rushes to purchase for fear of missing out and never seeing it again.  Truthfully, MAC re-releases certain items out of a collection when its super popular.  But regardless, makeup junkies don't want to miss out.  I was going to pass on this collection...but its such a big collection! Four lipsticks, four lipglosses, four powerchrome eye pencils, two eyeshadow quads, two blush, two nail polish, two bronzing powders, two prolongwear bronzing powders, a golden elixir strobe liquid, a bronzing oil, a brush, and a bag.  Seriously? That's like 13423423 different items.  Have a seat MAC. 

Anyway, it releases online tomorrow 5/16/13 and in stores 5/23/13.  I think I'll be picking up two of the lipsticks and a blush.  THAT'S IT. SERIOUSLY. Because the rest of the Riri <3 MAC collection comes out in June. And I'm sure there's probably a couple other collections as well. 

Seriously, how gorgeous is this shot here!

You can check out some up close pics over at Temptalia.

MAC's Marilyn Monroe Collection...Re-release

The Marilyn Monroe collection was released sometime fall 2012.  It was a nice collection, with special packaging.  It has been re-released earlier this week, and I believe exclusively to Macy's.  The only products that really, really caught my eye were the lipsticks.  Of course, all of them are already sold out, so there's nothing left for me to consider buying.  Some of the eyeshadows are pretty, but knowing MAC's eyeshadow formula and the price, I'm not interested in purchasing.  It does suck that I didn't realize this sooner, because there are some lipsticks from this collection I really really want (Charmed I'm Sure and Deeply Adored).

You can view the collection at Macy's online, or click here.

Fall '13 Forecast by MAC

I've been eying (eye-ing) the Fall '13 Forecast/Lips by MAC for weeks now.  When I was going to purchase it, it was all sold out.  I noticed Monday night it was back in stock while I was perusing the website...but I didn't purchase it because its $40 and I was more interested in MAC's collection releasing later this week (I'll put that in another post).  Anywho, today I go to look thinking maybe I will pick it up, since I got some $$$ for Mother's day...and lo and behold. It's sold out again.  Clearly I needed to snatch it up as soon as it became available.  This is def a palette I'm going to keep my eye out for.  I like all the colors, but there are two that really stand out to me.  You can check out the palette on MAC's site.  

 I also noticed that FAll '13 Forecast/Eyes while on the site.  I normally am not the biggest fan of MAC eyeshadow anymore, but these are cream color shadows, and will likely have much better color payoff than MAC's powder shadows.  And the colors look great.  This is something else I'll add to my neverending "makeup I really really really want to buy" list. It's actually in stock, but right now its not on my OMG WANT NOW list, so I'll hold off.  You can check it out here.

However, next time I see the lip palette back in stock, I'm purchasing immediately. Check out some pics below: