How much is your face worth?

I saw this tag floating about the beauty community, and although i'm a bit scared to see the grand total of how much i spend on my everyday makeup, i thought i'd do it!  Many of you will probably think this is an excessive amount of makeup for one to put on on a daily basis, but... yeah, i can't really think of an excuse to put here. :P  I do feel more confident & just better about myself after i've put some slap on, so i don't mind spending a little bit more money & time on doing so.

The only part of my routine that stays the consistent day-to-day is the 'base' category, with foundation & such.  Other than that, i wear more or less makeup & use different products in the other categories depending on my mood/what i'm doing that day.  The products included in this post are what i use on an average day & they make up a look that i've been wearing often recently.

Hope this is interesting to you ladies, i will now hold my breath while i add up the cost of everything! :O

-

Base

Bare Minerals Prime Time - $21

Benefit Erase Paste - $26

MAC Studio Finish concealer - $16.50

Bare Minerals Original Foundation - $25

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil - $19

 Cheeks

Bare Minerals Warmth All-Over Face Color - $18

Sleek Contour Kit - $10

Clinique Powder Blush in New Clover - free sample size with purchase so i'm not counting it :)

 Eyes

Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde -  $6.48

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - $18

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in RSVP - $19

GOSH Quad in Driftwood - £7.99, about $13

GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink - free with purchase of the quad :)

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in True Black - $15

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara - $5.84

Lips

Carmex - about $1

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It - $4.97

Total

$218.79

Well, that is slightly appalling isn't it?!  To be fair, each of the products do last quite a while and i believe i get my money's worth out of them... Anyway, it's how i choose to spend my hard-earned cash.  Consumerism ftw. ;)

♥

Crochet & turquoise.

Still feel like a bit of a loon taking pictures of myself!  I think it's just that i feel a little pretentious knowing that i intend to post the photos in a blog post like "ooh, look at my face"... hence the "let's just get this over with" look in my eyes haha.  Why do i do these posts you ask?  Well, i do like seeing other girlies' faces of the day because they show the products 'in action', if you know what i mean.  Like, sure, you can talk about a product all you want, but it's always nice to see it put to use!  I also think it's nice seeing the different combos people come up with.  If i like, say, an eye look i see on someone, i steal the idea & try to incorporate it into my own makeup - i'm sure i'm not the only one who does this... that is the point of these 'face of the day' posts (in my opinion), isn't it? :)

This is basically how i do my makeup on a day-to-day basis, with different eyeshadow combos & such, but they are all essentially the same neutral kind of look!  I also tried out a lip stain that i got from CVS the other day for the first time - not sure what my thoughts are on it yet!  I toned it down a lot so it probably doesn't look like much.

I am in love with the top i wore as well, it a crochet sort of thing that is so breezy, yet still cozy.  I adore the length of the sleeves, and although it kind of hangs in all the wrong places, it's oh, so right!  It came with a tank top, but i just cut it out - much better this way, it was all polyester and cringey.  This was a little thrift store gem i found, but i know crochet is a big trend this season, so similar tops & such are out in stores atm!

I've also been loving little delicate necklaces lately & with the top, i wore this gold chain with a little turquoise stone in it - another thrift store find!

I wore this out to work & then out to a casual dinner at TGI Friday's with my girlies, so i just wore dark wash  skinny jeans on the bottom (rolled up into capris with flats for work & as full length jeans with sandals for dinner).

So here's my face/kind of-outfit.....

Crochet top & necklace - thrifted

Eyes

Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan

GOSH Quad in Driftwood - medium brown in crease/darker brown in outer corner

Urban Decay e/s in Polyester Bride - highlight

Clinique Gel Liner in Black

L'Oreal Voluminous mascara in Carbon Black

GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink

Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde

Face

Bare Escentuals Prime Time

MAC Studio Finisher concealer - on blemishes

Benefit Erase Paste - under eyes

Bare Minerals Original Foundation

Bare Minerals Warmth - bronzer

Sleek Contour Kit

Clinique blush in New Clover

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil

Lips

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Passion (faded a lot)

♥

Monthly Favorites: May

Have quite a few favorites this month; this is probably because i have been spending way too much on cosmetics & hair products lately... i apologize, bank account.  I also haven't done one of these monthly favorites posts in a while, and that's probably for the same sort of reason, in months past i haven't splurged on anything really as i had been saving up for my trip.  (A little sidenote as i got a question about this on my last post: yes i will be doing a post on my trip eventually, it will just take a while to put together!  Sorry if you're a bit annoyed with me...)

This month i've been using a lot of products i got whilst in London, as well as two i got back here in the States.  If you are also from the US and are wondering where you can purchase brands like Barry M and Sleek Makeup that aren't available here, i suggest Googling them and going to the brands' official websites.  The shipping costs may be a bit horrendous, but in some cases i do think it is worth it!  On to what i've been loving in the past month. :)

♥ GOSH Eyeshadow Quad in Driftwood & Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan.

The first time i tried this GOSH palette, i was actually really disappointed as the colors all tended to look the same on my eyes and it just didn't stand out to me at all, but now i've been using this most everyday!  I've found a combination of products to use in tandem with this palette to make a really lovely makeup look.  I use Benefit's RSVP as a base, then apply the Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan all over the lid & slightly into the crease.  I then apply the medium brown shade (top, right) into the crease, the dark brown (bottom, left) into the outer v, and the highlight shade (top, left) in the inner corner and brow bone.

The Dazzle Dust in Tan is very similar to the famous MAC eyeshadow in All That Glitters, but you definitely get more product for your money with the Dazzle Dust!  This shadow is so versatile and i think it would look so lovely on just about every skin tone.

 ♥ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It.

The Color Sensational lipsticks are hands down my favorite lipsticks i've ever tried - yes, i even prefer these over MAC! *shock horror*  The formula, the color payoff, the longevity, everything is just spot on!  Well done Maybelline.  This shade in particular is a fairly new addition to my collection.  It's a super lovely nudey-pink shade, and leaves a bit of a sheen to the lips.  It's one of those lippies that would definitely be described as a "my lips, but better" shades.  It's so perfect and wearable, i think i will repurchase this until Maybelline stops making these (and probably even after...they shouldn't stop making these anyway! ;)

 ♥ Sleek Contour Kit in Light, Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight, and GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink.

I talked about all three of these products in my "Gosh & Sleek Loving" post, so if you want to read my little review on these products, deffo have a looksie.  Thought they were worth mentioning again in this post. :)

(left to right: 264 Pink Iridescent Glitter, 309 Strawberry Ice Cream, 318 Peach Melba, 304 Mint Green)

♥ Barry M Nail Paints.

I have been absolutely loving the Barry M Nail Paints i got (yes, i did get nine... *slap on the wrist*).  I had a laugh at all the comments from some of you saying you literally giggled when you saw how many i bought, haha... i'm so pathetic, i know!  The four above are the ones i have already tried (besides the Nail Effects one) and have been looooooving.  These nail paints have made me actually enjoy painting my nails, they dry so quickly and the colors are so fun!

Swatches (top to bottom): Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It (is lighter irl!), and GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink

♥ Charles Worthington Rough & Tough Front Row Salt Spray.

I've done a post on this showing how i style my hair using this product, which you can read here. :)

♥ Tangle Teezer - Original.

In my London haul post, i said i didn't really know my thoughts on this product, but after a bit more use i've grown to love it.  It's one of those products that you don't really realize how good it is until you've stopped using it.  For instance, i'd been using this for about two weeks and thought it was nothing special, but then i decided to use my regular paddle hair brush.  The regular hair brush made it incredibly painful to detangle my hair and it ended up just ripping my hair out, really!  Since then, i've been using the Tangle Teezer - on wet and dry hair.  I love this and would recommend it to anyone whose hair gets all mangled like mine.  Such a hair and pain saver!

♥

Gosh & Sleek Loving.

Haven't done one of these 'face of the day' type of posts in a while, i'm sure you can see why. ;)  I feel a bit vain posting pictures of my mug up for the people of the internet to see to be honest, haha.  I figured i'd do one anyway to show some of the products i got from my trip actually put to use.

I've absolutely been loving the Gosh eyeliner and Sleek Contour Kit, they are both new staples in my collection.  The Gosh liner totally tops Urban Decay's famous 24/7 one in Zero like it's nobody's business.  If you can get your hands on it, definitely try it out!  And the contour kit was a total bargain, don't think i'll be able to live without it from now on!  Makes the skin look gaaaaaawgeous and hasn't broken me out, which many drugstore products seem to do *knocks on wood*.

The Two Faced 'Illuminating' Shadow Insurance in Candlelight is totally new to me, i hadn't heard of it until my sister gave it to me (i think she got it as a 500 point perk at Sephora).  I really do quite like it though!  It's not as opaque as the Urban Decay primers are (ie. Sin), which i actually prefer.  It's just as good as the original staying-power-wise and it does brighten up the eye area to help make it look like you actually got your 8+ hours of beauty sleep - hence the 'illuminating' bit - without making it look like you have packed a ton of product on your eyes (like i have below haha ;).  Mac's Shroom looks amazing over it btw. :)

Hope you're not too offended by this little 'mug face of the day'!

Said Sleek Contour Kit & Gosh Eyeliner

Eyes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight

Mac Shroom e/s all over lid and inner corner & brow bone highlight

Mac Satin Taupe e/s in crease

Barry M Dazzle Dust in Chocolate in the outer corner

L'Oreal Linear Intense in Black - winged out with a bit of Urban Decay's Oilslick e/s on top to set

Gosh Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Blank Ink

Clinique High Impact mascara

Face

Benefit Erase Paste under eyes

Mac Studio Finish concealer on blemishes

Bare Minerals Original Foundation

Sleek Contour Kit in Light

Clinique Pressed Powder blush in New Clover

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil to set

Lips

Carmex :)

Hair & outfit

Will do a little post on the hair at some point. :)

top - New Look, earrings - Primark

♥

Beauty Purchases from London!

If you read my last post, you'll know i spent the past eight days in England and Paris!  I feel like i have SO much to talk about, i just don't know where to begin really.  I had such an amazing time, England is absolutely beautiful, i don't know what i'll do if i don't get the chance to go back!  I'm in love really.  Paris was a bit... odd?  Gorgeous, but we'll get to that another day...

I figured i could start a bit smaller with a wee makeup & hair product haul.  I don't buy makeup too often, but i knew i'd go crazy once i got to London.  I had a mental list of products i wanted to try out & luckily, i found most of them!  I should say i was in a bit of a rush whilst there, so i didn't get to dabble around and really look at all the brands and products recommended to me unfortunately.  :/  I thought i'd stick to brands & products i can't get here in the States, since MAC, Lush, etc. brands i can get here are more expensive overseas anyways.

You may notice i didn't buy a single thing from Paris in this haul, i was running out of money by the time i got there and had to feed myself, haha.

Let us begin!

Hair

I popped into Boots on one of the last nights i was in London & got these products, as well as a few makeup bits & bobs.  From left to right: Charles Worthington Rough & Tousled Salt Spray - £6.29, Umberto Giannini Backcomb in a Bottle - £5.61, Tangle Teezer £10.20, James Brown London Photo Fabulous Volumising Shampoo & Conditioner - both £6.99.
It's fantastic that Boots has the 3 for 2 little deal on certain sections, i actually ended up getting the Salt Spray for free, as well as a Barry M Nail Paint.
The only products i've tried so far are the Tangle Teezer, which i'm not sure what my thoughts are on yet, and the James Brown shampoo & conditioner, which smell divine & i actually really like!  If you would like me to do a review on any of these, let me know. :)

Makeup

The first day i was there, i actually had a bit of 'free time' to go shopping - to say i was pleased would be an understatement. ;D  The hotel i stayed at was just a little walk from King's Mall in Hammersmith (can you say shopping addict heaven?!), where there was a Primark, River Island, etc. as well as a Superdrug.  I made a quick stop in there and had a bit of a spree...
From left to right: Sleek iDivine Storm Palette - £6.49, Gosh Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink (free with purchase of eyeshadow palette), Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light - £6.50, Vaseline Lip Therapy "Rosy Lips" tin £1.73, and Gosh eyeshadow quad in "22 Driftwood" - £7.99.
I was so lucky to get the last Storm palette in stock, i've heard an incredible amount of raves about this, as well as the Contour Kit - so excited to try these two out!  Although they're so pretty, i don't know if i can get myself to mess with them... The Vaseline Rosy Lips was a bit of an impulse buy.  I didn't have it on my mental list, but i saw it & grabbed it!  It smells so lovely.  I haven't heard too much about the Gosh palettes, but i knew i had to get at least one Gosh thing - and it was awesome that the eyeliner came free!

 A little closer peek at the Sleek & Gosh palettes and the Contour Kit.

I totally spaced out as far as blushes and lipsticks go from these brands, i was in such a state of disbelief, all these products and brands i've heard mentioned so many times but didn't have access to, come to life!  It was quite the moment for me, haha.  I'm quite pathetic!

Now, i went a bit crazy when i got to the Barry M sections of Boots & Superdrug (as you may or may not be able to tell by the 'nails' section of this post!).  Again, i didn't get to look around too much while i was shopping, so i just grabbed what i thought i might like.
From left to right: Lip Gloss Wand shade 12 Strawberry Milkshake - £4.49 at Superdrug, Lip Paint in 100 Baby Pink - £4.49 at Boots, Dazzle Dust in 39 Tan - £4.59 from Superdrug, and Dazzle Dust in 53 Chocolate - £4.59 from Boots.
I just about fainted when i saw the Barry M stands, i wanted everything!  The packaging and the shades were all so lovely, and the brand just screams "England" to me, is this weird?  Haha.  I haven't tried these products out since i tried them, but i am SO excited to!  *sigh* Barry M, Y U NO IN UNITED STATES?!

Nails

I had a bit too much fun checking out all the Barry M Nail Paints at Superdrug, you have no idea!  I easily could have just cleared out the entire section, but i had to restrain myself.  I had to throw out quite a bit of stuff in my suitcase to fit all my purchases in.  (And the pathetic-ness continues!)

From left to right - all £2.99: 309 Strawberry Ice Cream, 264 Pink Iridescent Glitter, 318 Peach Melba, 304 Mint Green, 290 Spring Green (free with other purchases at Boots), 308 Berry Ice Cream, 312 Indigo, 293 Grey, 311 Nail Effects in Black.

These are just too cute, i can't even stand it!  They're all lined up/hidden in my desk/vanity drawer, so my sister doesn't steal them... I tried the Nail Effect nail paint over a lilac nail polish i already had on, and i'm in love!  It looks so awesome, i've gotten so many 'in awe' comments on them already.

-

I feel like all my upcoming posts are going to be about England & France - i have yet to show you all what i picked up clothes-wise, as well as photos from my actual trip!  I think i'll do my trip photos first, since i'm going to try and film my clothes haul, as trying to take photos of all the clothes may actually be disastrous!  I took an insane amount of photos whilst traveling, over 1000, and they took me about 20 minutes to load them to the computer!  Really excited to share everything with you lovelies though, i really did have the time of my life *tear*. ♥♥

Thanks for reading & stay tuned everyone!

P.S. Congratulations William & Catherine!  You two are beautiful together.

♥