Beauty No Buy: An Update

My beauty no buy has, for the most part been a success. Well, no. It was a failure because I bought a few things…but then again, I only bought 6 new things (and picked up a bunch of samples which technically doesn’t count, but still defeats the purpose of not adding to what I have)…so I’m going to call it a selective beauty buying restriction, and see how that works out for me. I have another month to go, and I'm thinking about extending it until the end of March…but I am optimistic. For now anyway.

I’ve been keeping a list of things that I want, and I have abandoned shopping carts all over the web, but so far, I’ve managed to resist the urges to do any major hauling. I was visiting California last week, which is why I got what I got…I dare you to go to Los Angeles and not buy anything. And I was tempted to get more than I did, but I managed to be good.

Here’s what I picked up:

Dior spring 2012 scented polishes

Dior Exquis and Merveille

And the samples I’m most excited about…I’m still trying out foundations, but my favorite so far is my DiorSkin Nude. Not too long ago Dior released a new foundation that I was curious about and passed on during the Sephora sales because I wasn't sure about the colors, so I picked up samples in 2 different shades. I haven’t used them yet.

I don’t think I did so bad though. I only bought the perfume because I forgot to pack any, and the nail polishes…well I got the last ones of Merveille and Exquis and then, who could pass up scented nail polish?

That’s all for now. Talk to you in the next one!

Foundation Overview: Take 1

A few months after I moved, my skin decided to have an identity crisis. I’m not entirely sure whether it was because I had just turned 25, if it was reacting to the new climate, or if it was due to all of the stress of moving…maybe some combination of 3 and then some…but regardless, it was doing things that I had never seen it do before.

I’ve always had very good skin. Even now, my skin isn’t bad, but I do quite a bit to it to keep it that way.

I’ve only recently discovered the awesomeness of liquid foundation, but I have to say I’m addicted.

From left to right (above and swatches below): MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC45, Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation in No.12, Nars Sheer Glow in Med. Dark 5/New Orleans, Makeup Forever HD in No. 177, Guerlain Lingerie de Peau in No. 25, Diorskin Nude in No. 051

My perfect foundation is light to medium coverage, and leaves a dewy or satin, more skin-like finish. My skin is normal to dry, more on the dry side, so I don’t want anything that is mattifying or that will dry down to a matte finish.

Wet swatches on paper from left to right (above and swatches below): MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC45, Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation in No.12, Nars Sheer Glow in Med. Dark 5/New Orleans, Makeup Forever HD in No. 177, Guerlain Lingerie de Peau in No. 25, Diorskin Nude in No. 051

I’m still in the process of testing these - trying out different application techniques, using them over and under different products…etc. But so far, the DiorSkin Nude is my favorite.

Dried swatches on paper from left to right (above): MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC45, Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation in No.12, Nars Sheer Glow in Med. Dark 5/New Orleans, Makeup Forever HD in No. 177, Guerlain Lingerie de Peau in No. 25, Diorskin Nude in No. 051

There are still a few other foundations that I want to buy and try (Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, Chanel Perfection Lumiere, Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Creamy Foundation, Burberry Sheer Luminous, Tom Ford Traceless, Bobbi Brown Skin…just to name a few), but I’d like to get through the ones that I have first. Have you tried any of these? Any suggestions for good ones I didn’t mention?

I plan on reviewing each one individually, then compare, contrast, and link them all together for part 2.

Talk to you in the next one!