Shop My Stash #4

I want to revamp this series on my blog. Basically, every fortnight I will go through my collection and pick out five products I hardly touch, haven't reached for in a while, etc. This fortnight, I will be reaching for blush products, eyeshadows, and a lipstick.

I purchased the MUA Blush Perfection Cream Blusher in Bittersweet a while ago to try out cream blushers. And I've only swatched it once. Although the shade isn't the most appropriate for winter, I want to try and incorporate blushes into my everyday routine (which I've been trying to do lately). This could work, if anything, as a base for a powder blush. 

MUA Pearl Eyeshadow in Shade 1 is a nice shimmery yellow beige shade, perfect as an allover lid colour during the day time, and can even be used as a highlighter. This eyeshadow has hardly been touched, and I hope to change that over the next few weeks.

I must have bought the Elf Duo Eye Shadow Cream in Butter Pecan years ago, and until last weekend, forgot I had it in my collection. Back then, I wasn't a huge fan of cream eyeshadows, but now I love them, and can definitely see myself getting some use out of this duo. There is a lighter warm toned beige and a more bronze cream eyeshadow, and I can imagine myself getting a lot of use out of these shadows (now that I've found them, of course). 

Since working full time and in an office, I like to look put together, but in all honesty, with minimal effort. The Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 240 Undressed is a nice darker nude, and I've been all about the nude lip recently. 

The FashionistA 4 Pan Custom Design Palette is one I put together last year (see review here). I have the blush shades Juicy Apricot, Cinnamon and Butterscotch, and a nice highlight shade, Barcelona. I actually really do like these blushes. They are super affordable, and pigmented. More than anything, I tend to avoid blush. I have accumulated a few throughout the years, so I do really need to give them some love. 

And these are the products I will be reaching for over the next two weeks!

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Fashionista 4 Pan Custom Design Palette (Blusher and Bronzer) review and swatches

Last week I posted about an order I made on the MUA website, which now stocks Fashionista products (see haul here). I was really interested in trying the Custom Design Palettes, because I am trying my hardest to get into blushes. I decided to pick up the 4 pan palette, and I filled it with three blushes and one bronzer (which is more of a highlight).

(From top left to bottom right - Juicy Apricot, Barcelona, Cinnamon and Butterscotch) 

Juicy Apricot has some noticeable golden flecks of shimmer in it, which I think would make a very pretty blush colour for the summer. It is quite a vibrant pink. Barcelona is one of the bronzer shades, although it is definitely a highlight. It is a light, goldish colour when swatched. I don't notice any glitter in it (like there is with MAC Mineralise Skin Finishes), it is just a nice, subtle shimmer. It blends out almost into nothing, leaving a very nice sheen. I think this is a perfect every day highlight shade. Cinnamon is the darkest shade out of the bunch, and I see this being a good fall and winter blush shade. This is a matte blush, and I have loved mixing this with Butterscotch, which is also another matte blush. The two together are a nice mix, not too dark for the spring time, and Butterscotch really livens up Cinnamon. I've really enjoyed these two together.

(L to R: Juicy Apricot, Barcelona, Cinnamon and Butterscotch) 

The price of these is really unbeatable - only $2.81 each! When you purchase the four together in one go, you also get the palette for free (this is also the case when you purchase six shades together). There are also eyeshadows that you can pick, but I own way too many eyeshadows so I felt blushes and the highlight (bronzer) shade were the best pick. Each pan comes with 2.5 grams of product. 

The palette itself is also quite sturdy. The pans just click in and are quite easy to remove. The mirror is able to stand up by itself, making this quite a travel friendly palette - you can customise blush, bronzer and eyeshadow shades, but also have a nice side mirror that can stand up by itself. 

I am quite pleased with this purchase. The shades are beautiful, with the only downside being lasting power. These don't last as long as I'd like, but a cream blush and setting spray will always prolong the wear. I'd recommend the blush and highlight shades I have tried, and I can't wait to place another order and get a few more shades.
For those wanting to venture out into blush, eyeshadow or bronzer shades, or on a budget, or just really love make up, this is perfect for you. Thanks for reading, and let me know some other good blushes to try!

MUA and Fashionista Haul

About two weeks ago I placed an order on MUA. When I was overseas, the only MUA stand I saw was small so I didn't get anything from the brand. I was really interested in the Fashionista Build Your Own Palettes - and the three blush and one highlight shade I purchased were only $2.81 each! How can anybody say no to that?! I decided to also pick up some MUA eyeshadows, as after uni finishes this semester I want to depot a majority of my eyeshadows and stick them in Z Palettes, these included. I haven't swatched any of the eyeshadows yet (I think I will do a separate post for that), but they look extremely beautiful in the pan! Here's a quick post showing you everything I got.

First, let's talk eyeshadows. I have two MUA palettes (Undress Me Too - see comparison with Naked 2 here, and the Heaven and Earth palette). I've heard some good things about these single eyeshadows, so I decided to pick up a few. Each eyeshadow worked out to be $1.74, and I got the pearl eyeshadows in Shade 1, 9, 12, 15, 24 and 30, and one matte eyeshadow in Shade 17. I haven't swatched these as yet, but I am excited to!

I decided to pick up the Fashionista 4 Pan Custom Design Palette in Black, along with three blush shades and a bronzer (which is more of a highlighter)

The back of the blush and bronzers looks like this, and they just pop out of the container and you put them right into the palette.

For the blush shades I got Cinnamon, Butterscotch and Juicy Apricot. For the bronzer (which is really a highlighter), I got Barcelona. Each pan was only $2.81, and when you get the four together the Custom Design Palette is free - the price is deducted as a discount on your invoice. 

I also picked up the F2 Stippling Brush, as I thought it would be a cheaper alternative to the MAC 130, but alas, it doesn't seem to be. This brush cost $5.22. 

I picked up a Fashionista Double Take Long-Wear Lipstick in 9 Atomic Tangerine. I'm actually quite happy with this colour choice, as I don't own anything like it in my collection. This lipstick cost $2.61. 

And that's all I got from the MUA site! Postage worked out to be $13.04 (I believe they have a flat rate for international postage), and my order including postage only came to $44.53! MUA is definitely an awesome brand to check out! Look out in the next few weeks for reviews of these products.