Shop My Stash #1 - How Did It Go?

This week has been quite hectic for me, I've worked more than I usually do so in those cases I like to stick to what I know and using these products hasn't been on the top of my list (see my first Shop My Stash post here). However, one of the products I have used on a daily basis, and that is the Vivo Cheeky Cream Blusher in Bloom. It isn't the longest lasting product I've ever used, but if I paired it with a powder blush I'm sure it would last much longer. I've enjoyed using my fingers to place the product on my cheeks, and then blend it out with my Sigma F50 Duo Fibre Brush - which makes me happy because I'm getting some use out of this brush! I hardly touch it.
The Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette on the other hand, is a product I really don't like. Not because it is bad or anything, but the concealers are really pink based (the lighter ones, at least) and it doesn't work for me well. I'd then have to apply foundation on top of this concealer to match me better. It is a good palette, and I think I'll include it in my kit (when I start doing freelance work) because it is a good, all-rounder palette. I did try the darker shades out as a contour, using my beloved MAC 130 Brush, and it worked well. But for day to day, it's just too much work doing a cream contour (it has been this week, at least).
The MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter is another product that didn't work well for me. I have the same problem with MAC Soft and Gentle - while they both look lovely swatched, I don't like pinkish highlighters. I love theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer because it is more of a yellow champagne and it works well. Pink and me just don't mix.

I ended up finishing two of the products (kind of), which makes me happy! When I use up a make up product, I feel accomplished! I've had the Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder in True Translucent since last year, and I'm happy to have used it up. When I was half way through this, I discovered the Face of Australia Translucent Loose Powder, which I adore as an under eye setting powder. This isn't a horrible powder, it is pretty good! I'm happy to have used this up to make some room in my makeup drawers. The Australis Eyeshadow Primer I have had for probably two years. The bottle is at the point where it doesn't distribute much product, and I've had it for a while so I figure it's time it went. This is a good eyeshadow primer, it was the first eyeshadow primer I purchased, and if you're in Australia or New Zealand I recommend this primer!

And that is all for my first Shop My Stash. I'm excited for next week's Shop My Stash - I might discover I product I will really enjoy, like the Vivo Cream Blusher!

Shop My Stash #1

It has recently come to my attention that I own way too many products. I like sticking to some products, but I need to work on reducing the size of my stash so I've come up with this idea. Every week, I'll go through my draws and pick out 5 items that I have to use that week - blush, an eyeshadow, or an eyeshadow palette, a lipstick, highlighter, bronzer, nail polish - anything! On Mondays I'll post about which products I have chosen, and on Sunday I'll give a review of how it went.

Here are the products I've chosen for my first Shop My Stash.

Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder True Translucent 

I've had this powder for a while, and it's about finished. I have dry skin, so I only really use powder to set under my eyes. The container is getting to the point where I can't get product out, so maybe by the end of the week I'll have used it up. 

Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette

I reviewed this back in April (see review here). I have used it, but it's not the best because it isn't really creamy - it needs to be warmed up with your hands. I've had some pimples pop up, so this will be good to use to cover those up. 

Vivo Cheeky Cream Blusher in Bloom

I'm not really the biggest on blush, but I'm going to try. I love this blush colour, it's a nice pinky peach and very suitable for spring. I find cream blush is better suited for me at the moment because it is more subtle than powder. 

Australis Eyeshadow Primer

This was the first eyeshadow primer I bought. It's okay, but like the Australis Finishing Powder I just want to use it up. I use a base, but I always use primer beforehand. 

MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlight 

I bought this highlight last time I ordered from MUA (see haul here). I haven't really used it, because at the same time I purchased theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer which I absolutely love. But I will try use this over the next week and see how I go. 

(L to R: Vivo Cheeky Cream Blusher in Bloom, MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter) 

England Haul pt 1 - Make Up!

I've recently come back from visiting family in England, and I went a little crazy on cosmetics. With the significant price difference in cosmetics between Australia and the United Kingdom, I think I can justify my purchases.

I was most excited for Urban Decay and Sleek. As you can see, I purchased a few things from each. It might just be easier to list the products, and do in depth reviews at a later date (particularly with the Benefit and Sleek palettes) 

Urban Decay All Nighter Make Up Setting Spray - I've had a mini bottle of this since my Dad went to England last year, and it's been on my to-buy list for ages. I love this stuff. 

MAC Mineralise Moisture SPF 15 Foundation in NC25 - I thought it was about time I bought a foundation specialised for dryer skin. 

Benefit The Bronze of Champions - I actually picked this up duty free which I was really excited about. It has a mini Hoola bronzer, They're Real mascara, a Creaseless Cream shadow and a mini Watt's Up! highlighter, all of which I have wanted to try for ages, so it is a perfect purchase for me! I will have a review up sometime soon of this set. 

Sleek Ultra Mattes VI Brights Palette - I have wanted this palette ever since it came out, but the websites I rely on to buy my Sleek (mainly Lipstick Republic) haven't had it in stock for ages. This was the last one on the shelf at Superdrug when I went in, so I snatched it of course. A review of this palette will also be up soon. 

Sleek Storm Palette - I've contemplated buying this palette for a while, so I took the plunge when I was able to swatch it in store. I haven't tested any of the palettes I've bought out yet, but I probably won't review this one because it is one of the most popular Sleek palettes. 

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - This is another palette that has been on my to-buy list, but I always told myself to wait until I went to England to pick it up. I probably don't need this in my collection, but you can never have enough eyeshadows, or palettes! 

Vivo Cheeky Cream Blusher in Bloom - I'm not big on blush, but over in England people are, so I thought I'd pick up a cream blush (as I have dry skin and it would work better) to try out. I've used it a few times, and so far so good. 

Nivea Lip Butter Raspberry Rose - I haven't seen this lip butter in Australia, and I picked this up on my first day in England when I saw it. 

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Stellar - I saw this colour and instantly thought of a favourite lipstick of mine, Party Parrot. I haven't done a side by side comparison yet, but if it is dupable I will make a post. 

Collection Cream Puff in Powder Puff 2 - I just wanted a nudey every day lip colour while I was overseas, but I haven't been overly impressed with this. It is meant to be a matte formula when dry, but it likes to cling to all kinds of dry patches on your lips. 

Lancome Hypnose - The lady at duty free tempted me with this, and how could I say no once I looked at the packaging? I'll have a review of this coming up soon. 

Barry M Fine Glitter Dust - I wanted a gold glitter, and I got it. Can't wait to give this one a go.  

Maybelline Colour Tattoo On and On Bronze - In Australia, this is called Bad to the Bronze. I decided to pick this one up while I was in England because it was cheaper, but also because it was summer and I wore this a few times on my lids as an all over colour. 

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Light in Purple - In the beauty blogosphere, I have heard people talk about this lovely duochrome colour tattoo, of which I'm unsure will ever be released in Australia. This was another purchase I made on my first day. I'll definitely do a review of this. 

Collecton Lasting Perfection Concealer in 1 Fair and 2 Light - I bought Light first, and it was a little dark on me (it leaned a bit orange). Fair I picked up later, and while it is a little light, it is good as an undereye concealer. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal in 012 Bronze - I actually don't own a bronze eyeliner, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to pick one up. 

Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light - My beloved contour in my Sleek Face Form palette has hit pan, so I picked this up as a back up. 

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Mystic - I've wanted this lipstick for a while, but I wanted to be able to swatch this and another one to see which I preferred. The other had shimmer in it, so I opted for the matte.

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Naked - I'm trying to get into nude lips (which I have until recently avoided), so that is what fuelled this purchase. 

MAC Candy Yum-Yum Lipstick - It's been on my to-buy list since it was made permanent, and with the significant difference in prices between Australia and the UK, why not ;) 

MAC Honey Love Lipstick - This is a matte nude, that looks very friendly to me. Can't wait to give this one a go and get some use out of it.