MAC, Sephora, & ELF Haul! :D

I got a little spending money for my grades---I made straight A's again this semester!---so I went shopping and for the first time in a while was able to spend money on ME! The past few months I have been saving to buy Cory an Xbox 360 for his birthday, which I did end up surprising him with....but it was hard to resist buying make-up for a little while! Here's my loot from Sephora:

Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in Score, $24.00

Urban Decay's packaging is always so cool!

Such a gorgeous pinky peach color!

Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat, $40.00

I got Shade 3, a peachy shade

Brush tip applicator

A swatch on my hand

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder, $28.00

I was so excited when I saw this in stock at my local Sephora!! They usually never have it.

 The mirror says "Why be pretty when you can be gorgeous?"

 Such a nice matte soft brown....& smells like cocoa too! Love it

From MAC:

Glaze Lipstick in Hue, $14.50

 THE perfect nude pink! My new favorite lipstick

Frost Eyeshadow in Phloof!, $14.50

 I got this for a highlight color :)

ELF cosmetics (from Target):

Contouring Blush & Bronzing Duo, $3.00

 I got this specifically to do a comparison review with the NARS Laguna/Orgasm duo

 Waterproof Eyeliner Pen, $1.00

 It has a really precise tip

 So you can make thin or thick lines

 Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal, $1.00

 Extremely pigmented! Can't wait to use this on my cheek bones as a highlighter!

That's all! I got a few things I have been hankering after for a while. My next shopping mission will be for a new foundation, either the NARS Sheer Glow or the MUFE HD. Any recommendations?

Shopping List Ideas

Tomorrow I am going to the mall with my friend Stephanie, and for the first time in a while I have money to spend on ME! There are so many things I want! Before I buy any makeup, I need to buy an outfit for pictures I'm having done on Thursday. I will probably get that at Forever 21, with whatever money I have leftover, I really want:
MAC's Hue Lipstick


Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

YSL Touche Eclat

Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

BeautyBlender Sponge

Hopefully I will have enough money leftover to buy one or two of these! :)

April 2011 Favorites!

Another installment of my monthly favorites! Wayyy late this month because of school, but I am out for summer....for a week! I start summer school Monday, May 23, but I only have one class so hopefully it won't be too bad. I am officially a senior in college now! I was so excited I cried. I am really on the path to achieving my dreams. In just a year I'll have my bachelor's degree, and I'm already researching graduate programs. My fiancées mom has taken to calling my Dr. Patty, and if I can stick with school for another couple of years, that will be a reality! Let's celebrate with my April Faves :)

1) Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer Pencil in Medium

This little pencil comes packaged with the Glamofluge concealer tube. At first I thought, "I'll never use that", but then I saw a YouTube video where a guru (I don't remember who) used a flesh-toned pencil to line her water line to brighten up her eyes. I often see people use a white eyeliner pencil, but the flesh tone looks less harsh and just so natural. Another tip with this is to outline your lips with it for definition. It creates clean lines for any lip color you've applied. So I don't use this for its intended purpose, but it's great for eyes and lips!

2) MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation

I have been favoring this powder over any other this month. Unlike MAC's MSF Natural, it leaves a matte finish, something I need since the heat and humidity has been crazy this month. I use this over liquid foundation usually, or if I'm in a rush I swirl it on bare skin with a kabuki brush. It provides coverage but looks natural and matte. Great powder for summer!

3) C.O. Bigelow Lipgloss

This is another one of those products that I can't believe I've neglected mentioning this long. I have been using this lip gloss for years, and have about 5 on hand at all times. My favorite is the Ultra Mentha Lip Shine, a clear gloss that is minty and ultra moisturizing. I also have the Spearmint one and a few of the colored ones. They are about $8.00 at Bath and Body Works, and I am compelled to pick one up every time I'm in the store. They come in sooo many varieties as well, I urge you to pick one up the next time you visit BBW!

4). MAC Springsheen Blush

I recently mentioned this in a haul and have been loving it ever since. It's a peachy color with a gold sheen that is so fresh and pretty for summer. I have hardly used any other blush this month.

That's it for favorite products. I haven't been too focused on make-up this last month, but I am going on a shopping spree soon and hope to get some new things :)

Favorite blog of the month:
Vintage Makeup

Vintage Makeup offers reviews, tutorials, and my favorite---posts she calls "Swatched," where she swatches a featured makeup item. They are really helpful. She also posts awesome EOTDs (Eyes of the Day). I love her comments, they are always so enthusiastic and positive...they make my day :)  I have been absolutely loving her blog, go check it out!

Goodbyes:
Something else I want to add to my monthly favorites is products I used up that month. I learned from my Mini Project 10 Pan (which I never wrote about because I accidentally threw half of the items away cleaning out a drawer) that it's soooo hard for me to go without buying ANYTHING for a while. I need something little here, a drugstore mascara maybe, or some MAC or Clinique every once in a while. But the use-it-up mentality from MP10P has stuck, and I've been using up stuff like crazy.

USED UP:

Wen Cleansing Conditioner--Repurchase? NO, too expensive!

Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave for Dry Skin--Repurchase? Yes

Bath & Body Works Dark Kiss Shower Gel--Repurchase? YES. Adore it!

PHYTO Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo, travel size--Repurchase? No

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, 1.7 Fl. Oz. size--Repurchase? Yes

Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover, travel size--Repurchase? Yes

PHYTO Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask, travel size--Repurchase? No

Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara--Repurchase? Yes

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Eye Pencil in 01 Onyx--Repurchase? Yes (and already have!)

Soft Lips SPF 20 Lip Protectant in Vanilla--Repurchase? Maybe...not my favorite lip balm, but not too bad either.

That's all for this month! Thank you so much for reading. What did you use up in April?

Quick Update + Sunglasses Haul

Hello darlings, I am sorry I haven't been posting very often, this is the last week of my junior year in college and I have been overwhelmed with exams and thesis stuff. I am working on my April Favorites and a few other posts, but I wanted to leave with you with something until I'm able to start posting consistently again: a sunglasses haul! It's getting super hot and sunny where I live in East Tennessee, and I needed some new shades for the summer.

I can't afford a pair of the Rayban Wayfarers, but luckily I found these royal blue sunglasses at T.J. Maxx yesterday on the men's sunglasses stand. I think they're awesome regardless if they're meant for men---and they were $4.99! I have been finding some awesome deals lately.

(Haha...modeling these!)

I got theses at Claire's for $5.00. I don't think they were supposed to be on sale for $5.00, because I saw an identical pair that didn't have the clearance sticker on them, but I argued with the sales lady and got them for 5 bucks anyways. 

This last pair is the kind I love---the big round frames that make you look like a bug! I adore them. These are really high quality too. I got them at JCPenney for around $15. I've never owned any Relic sunglasses before, but for a cheap brand, I really like them. And the inside is so cute, a bright floral design. I am really happy with these!

Have you purchased any new sunglasses for summer?

OOTN---Dinner out

I wore this outfit for a dinner out at Marlin and Rays, a new seafood restaurant in my area. We filled out a survey last time we ate there and they called us back to do an interview! They filmed us (Cory and I), bought our dinner, and gave us $50! Pretty sweet deal. It was for research purposes only, not like a commercial or anything.

Pardon the awful expression on my face....

Floral skirt: Forever 21 yellow tag deal, $7.50

Top: Kohls, $6.99

Belt: Rue 21, $7.99

Sandals: Target, last year

I curled my hair with the Conair Infiniti Youcurl. I love how fast and easy it is, but I think curling-iron curls are prettier. These are tighter and more spiral. But they last forever and don't fall, which is awesome. I need more practice with it to achieve the kind of curls I want.

Dinner was great by the way, the interviewers were really nice and chill. If you live in Maryville area, check out Marlin & Rays the next time you want seafood. Cory and I both were very pleased. :)