Products I Wouldn't Repurchase

Posts like this mark the rare instances when I miss my YouTube days. It's easier to explain that you wouldn't repurchase a certain item because it didn't work for you rather than, "Oh, it sucks" when you're talking to people, y'know? Granted, people on YouTube could get a little crazy if you dissed one of their favorite products; I'll never forget the grief I got for filming a poor review of the NYC Loose Powder, or for pointing out that there were 2 or 3 Wet n' Wild products I really hated ("Why are you soooo negative?!?!"). But while I wasn't the most eloquent speaker or presenter, I always felt relatively comfortable with the idea that I was conversing, not writing.

Still, I think I can get my point across decently in the written word, so I'm going to try a blog post version of this very famous tag. These are items that I didn't necessarily hate, but they didn't wow me or suit my tastes. Hence, I wouldn't repurchase them. And if I could turn back time* and save myself a $20, I wouldn't hesitate.

MAC Pigments -- Anybody who frequented YouTube circa 2008 heard nothing but worshipful odes about MAC pigments. They were the best eyeshadows for bright looks and the most collectible, sought-after products on the market, save for Parrot eyeshadow. But I've owned a good 6 or 7 jars of the stuff, and I rarely used them. They were too messy for regular eyeshadow application, I don't like gloss enough to mix them in with a clear base, and most of the highlighting/bronzing type shades are too glittery for my tastes. The two that have survived numerous purges remain for sentimental reasons: Jardin Aires was a gift from my father, and Vanilla is a holdover from my more active drag scene days. And they look nice mixed in to lotion or sunscreen, I guess. But truth be told? I bumped Vanilla on to the ground while I was taking this picture, and I was more pissed about having to clean a teaspoon of powder out of bathroom tile.

GLAMGLOW Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask -- I know I'm getting the side-eye for this one. I've mentioned it multiple times on this blog, and it's even been labeled as a Holy Grail product. None of that was a lie. But $69 for a mudmask that, yes, has great results, but is also quite harsh on most people's skin, is not something I can continue to support. The only reason I've gone through two jars is because I bought my first at half price (it was an extra tester), while the second was a very generous swap extra. I could get a similar effect by combining a decent kaolin clay mask with regular exfoliation. I'll miss you, my extravagant friend, but I think I'll get by.

Dior Instant Cleansing Water -- I had a brief love affair with this bottle when I first got it, but I've come to realize that...it's not really a necessity. Actually, it doesn't even work that well in its advertised capacity as a gentle makeup remover; it couldn't remove 90% of the products on my face. I figured I could get good use out of it after my morning walks, ie, it'd get the sweat off of my face before I put my makeup on. However, I walk primarily in the morning or the evening when it's cooled down/my makeup is already on, so that didn't work out too well. I've been using it for the occasional refresher, or to remove eyeshadow fallout before I apply foundation. Beyond that, it's just a pretty bottle on my desktop.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara -- Don't get me wrong: this is definitely the best bottom lash mascara on the market. The formula doesn't run, it never makes my lashes looked spidery, and the tiny brush is perfect for getting in to the corners of my eyes. The problem is that I tend to put most, if it not all, of my eye makeup on my upper lid to draw attention away from my dark circles. This little tube has lasted me so long because I hardly ever use it. Lovely for others, not a necessity for me.

Clinique Airbrush Concealer in 01 Fair -- Another Clinique item! Don't worry, they've still got some great products, and this is still a cult favorite for a reason. I openly admit that I bought this because of the Lisa Eldridge hype, only to realize that it didn't have enough coverage for me. The shade is also super-pink, so I can't use it on blemishes. Instead, I used this product as a corrector under or over other products to counteract the blueness in my undereye circles. Do I do that often? No. If you have very minor flaws to cover and you can find a shade that suits you perfectly, then this is certainly a good option; if you're like me and you mostly use concealer for the Undereye Circles of Doom, then pass.

Coppertone Water Babies Sun Lotion Spray SPF50 -- I'm a huge fan of drugstore spray-on sunscreens, particularly the Banana Boat sport options. But the damn things reek to high Heaven. I heard that the Water Babies line by Coppertone didn't have a chemical scent, so I bought a 2-pack of the stuff. Unfortunately, what it lacks in scent it more than makes up for in feel. It comes out clear for 2 seconds, then turns white, meaning you'll have to do a lot of rubbing-in (which defeats the purpose of a spray-on sunscreen). It also feels heavy on my skin. Finally, it's difficult to remove; I have to soap myself to get the stuff off, which is super-drying. It protects me from the sun, no doubt, but considering it covers me like a freaking blanket wool blanket, I'm not surprised.

3 Concept Eyes (3CE) Cream Blusher in New Pink -- When my hunt for the perfect not-sparkly pastel pink cream blush hit a standstill with the American market, some folks at MakeupAlley suggested I turn to Korean products. This tube seemed to fit the bill: it looks pigmented and totally plush on the model. Sadly, I feel for marketing. This blush is incredibly sheer; even on my pale skin, it took me 3-4 layers of the stuff to get a noticeable color. The formula also wasn't the most comfortable on my dry cheeks. Utter sadness. To the swap pile it goes.

Beauty Blender Sponge -- I'm going to get socked in the face for this one, I know, so let me say this: I can see why people love this sponge. It's definitely great for blending out heavier foundations, or for applying a cream foundation. But if you're like me and you favor light-medium coverage liquid foundations, all this sponge is going to do is soak up your product. It's rare that a foundation looks better on me when I apply it with this sponge versus, say, my fingers. Also, it freaks me out that the damn thing continued to leak pink dye after 6 or 7 washings.


* If I could fiiiiind aaaa waaaaay-uh! I'd take back those words that huuuurt you, and you'd stay!!!

And now, bonus puppeh!

Recent Loves and Let-Downs

Guys, that big-ass tree outside my window is driving me BONKERS. Between that and the long, dreary storm cycle we've been undergoing, my bedroom has been a pit of doom and gloom for about a week. I seriously cannot wait for fall the begin so we can have a break from stormclouds and all of the leaves fall off that ridiculous tree. (And I can wear more makeup without it melting off of my face, but that's beside the point.)

And speaking of makeup: it's time for some product porn! These are the products that have made the darkness bearable. ORLY Ancient Jade nail polish, in particular, has added a lot of pastel green sunshine to my life; I've recently gotten back in to painting my nails and have been enjoying it, but it was only when I applied Ancient Jade that I remembered why I used to love it. Cool creams like this just rock my world.

I've unexpectedly fallen in love with two very affordable products: the Wet n' Wild Fergie eye primer and the Clinique cream liner in True Black. My tube of Too Faced Shadow Insurance is just now running out, so I grabbed the Fergie primer on a whim. So imagine my surprise when I tested it out and it looked, felt, and performed JUST like TFSI! I really hope it isn't a limited edition product, because it's a $5 steal! The Clinique liner is $15, not $5, but so far, it's performed better than any other black pot liner I've used. It's an unusually soft, liquid-esque formula with the texture of a face cream.

On the more expensive (and seemingly unavailable) end of things, there's the Dior cream eyeshadow in Undressed Beige. A friend sent this in a swap package as an extra, and after I initially swatched it, I didn't give it much thought. It seemed a bit dry and glitter-chunky. But when it's on my lids? Wow, perfect shimmery, soft golden beige! I've been wearing it with my winged eyeliner everywhere I can, including my cousin's wedding. I also wore MAC Please Me matte lipstick and Bobbi Brown Tutu gloss--my recent go-to lip combo--to said wedding. I think Bobbi Brown discontinued Tutu, which is a crying shame; it was my perfect nude pink.

I have to give mad props to some of the things that kept me going during my most recent sinus infection.  I wouldn't have been able to sleep at all if I hadn't had this bottle of nasal spray. Yes, it's only a temporary solution, but when I used it with an over-the-counter decongestant pill? That was 2 or 3 hours of sleep before my stuffy nose woke me up again. And when the whole affair was over, my beloved Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream was there to fix my rough, ragged, peeling nose. I smeared a thin layer of this stuff on the sore skin every night before bed; the area was drastically improved after the first morning and completely healed by the third. Normally, it takes my nose a week or more to heal.

I haven't been emotionally scarred by any of my recent try-it-out bouts, but I have found a number of disappointments. Perhaps my biggest disappointment was the Anthony Logistics for Men Instant Fix Oil Control primer, which I got as a Sephora 100 point perk. This product promises to mattify on contact, but when I applied it to my nose, my nose was...still shiny. My nose needed a little less blotting throughout the day, but it did still need that blotting, and there was nothing matte about it. I think this product would work better for somebody with more "uniform" skin than mine--I have a face that's 95% Sahara Desert, 5% oil slick. I had a similar reaction the Hourglass Mineral Primer: it wasn't BAD, by any means, but it didn't wow me the way I hoped it would, and it didn't do anything all that spectacular compared to other primers I've used.

I've also been having a tough time with new mascaras. I got a free sample of the Dior DiorShow mascara and was beyond excited to try it, as I haven't used it for many years now. Yet again, we're dealing with a product that isn't terrible, just lackluster. It darkened my lashes a smidge and gave me a bit of volume and length, but it tended to be clumpy and flaked on me throughout the day. I have nothing against natural mascaras, but this guy wasn't really natural, just...dull. A product that DID suck hardcore was the Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes mascara. Sweet lord, this stuff was AWFUL! The large brush did next to nothing for my lashes except dry them out and make them look spidery, and the little brush just darkened my lower lashes a bit. I had to force myself to use this mascara twice to give it a fair shot. I was super-excited to try it out, as I tend to have good luck with Maybelline mascaras, but nope! Straight to the trash with this one.

Last, but not least, the much-loved Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose Kiss. This isn't a bad product, but it didn't do what everybody told me it would do: lighten and soften my natural lip color. It works nicely over pink lipsticks, but on my own lips, it's either completely clear or, if I add a whole lot, a bit gray. It also isn't the most comfortable or moisturizing lip butter out there; it can get a bit tacky and gummy on my lips after an hour or two.

And there you have it! My recent loves and let-downs. My two-job life starts up in a month, and I'm still prepping for that, but I hope to have a small backlog of posts prepared for weeks when I can't write as much. Viva la blog!

My Makeup Bag

I'm one of those women who really should get out of the habit of carrying a makeup bag. It was a necessity when I was in graduate school because I almost always rolled out of bed after 2 hours of sleep and slapped on a full face of makeup whilst riding the bus to the office. Now that I'm seeking employment and rarely spend my nights at other people's houses? Not quite as necessary. I could get away with my lip color and a powder compact. But I stubbornly cling to the carry-a-makeup-bag tradition in the hopes that I'll have more adventures, find exhausting but gainful employment, and never be without an essential touch-up item.

One thing I definitely need to put in this bag, though, is a travel packet of makeup remover wipes. I'd never rely on a makeup wipe to clean my face on a regular day, but if I get stuck somewhere and can't access my complete skincare routine? Girl.

First, the non-makeup stuff I carry! I always worry about running out the door with messy, smelly hair, so I carry my spin pins, a bobby pin, a ponytail holder, and a solid perfume. The solid perfumes from One Hand Washes the Other are a godsend because they won't leak or melt and make a mess out of my bag! My emergency skincare treatment of choice is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer for Face, which is creamy enough to moisturize my face, but light enough to mix with other products. I've only seen that product in kits, but keep your eyes peeled at TJ Maxx and Marshall's! Last, but not least, a mirror my friend Jessica gave me. I'm paranoid about food getting stuck in my giant horse teeth, so I check that mirror more than I'd like to admit...

And the makeup! A few of these items rotate in and out: the sample Chantecaille gloss is there in case I want a bit of shine, I'm due to replace the Estee Lauder Sumptuous mascara with a new mini, and I switch the Becca Beach Tints every month or so--they're sheer enough to work with most lip colors. The Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows in Soft Blonde isn't the Holy Grail that Shu Uemura Hard Formula in Seal Brown is, but it's still quite pretty and very travel-friendly. I do think I need to find an alternative to the Palladio Rice Paper Sheets...they aren't terrible, but they kick up a good bit of powder when I pull them out, which defeats the purpose of carrying a pseudo-mess free powder.

The other items are major loves of mine and definite makeup bag staples! Benefit High Beam has been one of my all-time favorite highlighters and all-around wonder products for years, and it really breaks my heart that they no longer sell this $10 travel size. :( On the bright side, many of the kits contain mini-High Beams! I also keep a travel-sized Anastasia Clear Brow Gel to hold my crazy brows in shape and, if the need be, to add some shine to my lashes. That's one of the few products I own a full-sized AND travel-sized version of, because I never ever want to be without it. Lipstick Queen Jean Queen is a Holy Grail that stays in the makeup bag because it's suitable for any and all makeup looks. And of course, my base products: the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment in Fair and the Clinique Airbrush concealer in Fair. Both of these products are sheer, lightweight, and absolutely bulletproof.

Painting for the Back Row

Have you ever been to a drag show? If not, you're missing out on some mega-super-fantastic SERIOUS fun! This year, I not only watched the fantastic drag show at one of my local universities, I also pitched in and helped a bit with the makeup for a truly hilarious "Gangnam Style" routine. The task was to essentially paint the back-up dancers like baby drag queens, which, hey, no problem...except there were a few more dancers than I expected: five. FIVE! But with plenty of help from lovely friends and my amazing ability to pilfer cosmetics from the collections of others, we were able to get it done.

All of these lovely ladies were kind enough to use their own foundations and concealers, except for the few ladies who didn't own foundation or concealer at all. They were all beautiful, of course, so it wasn't even really necessary.

Plenty of saturated colors were needed, so I started with Too Faced Shadow Insurance on all of their lids before applying various shades of Mehron Aqua Color in a cat-eye shape. I set the Aqua Colors with matte powder eyeshadows by Ben Nye and Wet n' Wild. The huge lashes are from Mehron and were definitely a splurge, but they were totally worth it! Several of the dancers kept their sets. Eyebrows were liberally darkened with various shades of Maybelline Define-a-Brow (which I admit I'm not a fan of--most of the shades seemed quite red, and I had to click the pencils up a zillion times) with the exception of the two blonde ladies; for them, I used my own Clinique Superfine Liner in Soft Blonde.

The cheek colors are La Femme powder blushes in various mixtures of Flamingo Pink, Coral Spice, Terracotta, Purple Passion, and Fuchsia. Three highlighters were used liberally on the cheekbones: MAC Cream Color Base in Luna for the palest ladies, MAC Glimmer Shimmer in Orange Twink over warm blushes, and Hard Candy Glow All the Way Luminzer in Doll Face over cool blushes.

Three shades of lipstick were used: NYX Strawberry Milk, NYX Louisiana, and MAC Coral Polyp. The original plan was to add MAC Clear gloss on top, but they were already quite shiny/bright, and we were running out of time. No-brainer right there.

To finish them off and give them a majorly Shellac'ed appearance, I had them close and cover their eyes (as Mehron Aqua Colors are not waterfast unless you use certain mixing mediums) while I sprayed them with liberal amounts of ELF Studio Makeup Mist & Set.

The fantastic drag king seen here, Papi Choulo, did his own makeup using Ben Nye Creme Colors.

I didn't have much time to my makeup, unfortunately, because it was a rainy day that involved lots of running around. But I did manage to slap on some MAC Party Parrot right before the show started! The two lovely gents with me are my good friends Dan (out-of-drag queen Scarlet Fairweather), who made several special appearances, and Joe, who helped organize the festivities.

Tips for "No Makeup Makeup"

It's probably one of the most popular subjects in the world of beauty and fashion, and it's certainly one of the most sought-after YouTube tutorials: how do I make myself look amazing with makeup without looking like I'm wearing said makeup? And while there are a number of great how-tos floating about the internet, the fact of the matter is that what works best for you is really going to depend on your skintone, your preferences, and what you perceive as your "flaws." I do, however, have some basic tips for this sort of look, which always earns me loads of compliments, some of which are admittedly borderline creepy. (And I quote: "If I could, I would steal your skin, bottle it up, and sell it!" Erm...thanks?) Please remember that these are tips, not rules, and you are always encouraged to experiment and find what works best for you.

TIP #1: Be aware of your weaknesses. Try to push past them, but don't beat yourself up over them.

You've probably noticed that, despite the fact that this is supposed to be a makeup-less makeup look, I have rather strong brows. This is my weakness: it's almost impossible for me to put on my makeup and not give myself a strong brow. My eyebrows are naturally quite light, fine, and messy, and as my good friend Sara once mentioned, it is nigh-on impossible to walk out of the house without doing your eyebrows if you've gotten used to penciling them in. I am therefore well-aware that when I do this sort of makeup, I will almost always end up looking like I'm not wearing any makeup...except for heaps of brow pencil. And I don't beat myself up over that. At the end of the day, it's not so much about how well you replicate a certain look, it's about how good you feel when you walk out the door.

TIP #2: Always, always, always use products that work well for your skintone.

If you want to look like you're not wearing makeup, one of the worst things you can do is use a foundation that's too dark or a blush that's a completely unnatural tone (ie, a bright orange blush that stays bright orange on your cheeks--nobody blushes orange). This can be tricky if you're on the "extreme ends" of the skintone spectrum, ie very fair (like me) or very dark. Most foundations, concealers, and powders won't come in shades that suit your skintone, and most blushes and brow products will either be very difficult to blend out so that they look natural or just won't show up. Take the time to test a lot of products and figure out what works for you; it took me several years to find just a few products that matched me perfectly.

TIP #3: Watch out for "extreme" finishes, like extremely matte, extremely dewy, and extremely shimmery.

Your skin may naturally be quite oily or dry, but the trick with no makeup makeup is that you want to look like your skin is naturally balanced and healthy: not super-oily, but with that slight "glow of youth." And glitter is most certainly not something that just pops up on your skin! This means that, for the most part, you'll want to use products that are demi-matte or satin finish to best mimic the appearance of real skin; you can then add highlights with a product that is glowy, but not glittery, to the points where you need it. Exceptions to this rule would be people with very oily and very dry skin, who will need a more matte or more moisturizing base, respectively, to keep their skin looking nice throughout the day.

TIP #4: If you don't absolutely need it, don't use it.

I used foundation for the FOTD that heads this post because I was experiencing some skin sensitivity and therefore had a bit more redness to my face than what is usual. But for the most part, when I do no makeup makeup, I skip foundation altogether and just use a bit of concealer on my undereye circles and the occasional blemish. This is one of the hardest parts of no makeup makeup: it's meant to look "real" and "natural," so if you have to be willing to let your supposed "flaws" shine through a little. Almost nobody, without makeup, has a uniform skintone with no variance in color or texture, huge Kardashian-style eyelashes, or glossy coral lips. If your brows are already quite lovely, brush them in to place, maybe set them, but leave it at that. If your lips are naturally quite pigmented, just use a bit of lip balm. If you have freckles, let them shine through. Remember that the point isn't to look hyper-real and flawless: while beautiful, those types of looks always indicate that you're wearing makeup.

Products Used and Recommendations

1. I used a small amount of Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($18, Sephora) on my eyelids and undereyes to prevent them from getting super-shiny and oily. If you use a face primer, you can also run that over your eyelids, brows, etc. If the skin around your eyes is dryer, consider moisturizing it 10-15 minutes before you apply your makeup.

2. Because there are next to no color cosmetics in this look, I moved right on to perfecting my base. On this occasion, I used a thin layer of Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Luminous foundation ($40, VapourBeauty.com) to even out my skintone. With this kind of makeup, it's best to stick with very sheer, thin foundations like this, then add concealer wherever necessary. Other foundations I've used for this sort of look include MAC Face & Body ($27-$33, MACCosmetics.com) and Revlon New Complexion ($10-15, drugstores). I also recommend using your figures to apply your foundation, as this tends to spread the foundation thinner (making it look more natural) and can make this look a quick no-brush option.

3. VOBALF evened out my sensitivity redness, so I just concealed my undereyes with a sheer, demi-matte concealer: Clinique Airbrush concealer ($19.50, Sephora). If I skip foundation, I tend to use Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($45, Nordstrom) as needed; I have a tutorial for this KA SSE application method right over here.

4. I tend to keep a few mascaras around: a natural mascara, a layerable mascara, and a dramatic mascara. Obviously, the dramatic mascara is not an option for this kind of look, so I went with the layering mascara, which is also my HG: Prestige My Biggest Lashes ($6.50, Ulta). You can keep layering this product for uber-thick, full, black lashes, but I stuck with one coat and combed out the few clumps with my fingers. Always pick a mascara that's tried and true, one that you know won't smudge or flake on your lashes, as smudges and flakes are obvious signs that you're wearing makeup. My current favorite natural mascara is Estee Lauder Sumptuous ($22, Nordstrom); I would also recommend Maybelline Full n' Soft ($6.50, drugstores) and Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara ($24, Sephora).

5. Oh, brows, my weakness! I used my beloved La Femme brow pencil ($1.50, MakeupMania.com) and went very full-on, but because this is a harder pencil, you can get quite a natural look if you use a lighter hand. The Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil ($24, ShuUemura-USA.com) is another great option if you prefer a pencil. If you just need a bit of help, considering using a matte eyeshadow to fill in gaps, or just add a hint of brow gel, which--

6. --my favorite is the Anastasia Clear Brow Gel ($21, Sephora). I keep a mini-tube in my purse at all times! It smells awful, but no other brow gel is able to groom and hold my brow hairs so well without making them feel crispy. They also make tinted versions.

7. When it comes to blushes, I will almost always recommend a liquid formula for this kind of look, since they tend to be sheerer and more blendable. My favorites are the Becca Beach Tints ($25, Sephora). If you don't plan on using a highlighter, certain cream blush formulas can add a bit of glow to your cheeks, like a Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glow ($24, Nordstrom); just use a very light touch, as many cream blushes are opaque and saturated with pigment. If you have trouble getting liquid blushes to show up on your skin, go for a buildable, matte powder blush that's easy to blend out; Sleek Blusher ($6, SleekMakeup.com) and Lancome Blush Subtil ($30, Sephora.com) are some of my favorite formulas.

8. I always finish off with a highlighter that's glowy, but not shimmery, and hard to overdo. In this case, I used the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl ($41, Sephora). (This is actually a little sample pot that a very kind friend sent me!) If you prefer a powder, consider the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial powder in Candlelight ($42, Nordstrom). MAC Cream Colour Bases ($18.50, MACCosmetics.com) come in a number of highlight shades, if you're looking for something more affordable, but be forewarned: these are buildable and can be overdone.

I've posted two similar no makeup makeup looks with breakdowns/tutorials in the past, so I will link those down below. Here's hoping these posts have helped!

Hyper-Glow post
No-Makeup-Makeup/Minimalism

Beauty Sightings: Sex and the City, seasons 4 and 5-ish

I accidentally listed my season 5 and season 6 shots under the same filenames, so you may actually be getting a few season 6 sightings at the end here. My bad!

It was VERY hard to get these opening shots of the ladies' purse contents, but I tried my very best! This is an unidentified lipstick tube and a MAC lipglass in what appears to be Ample Pink laid out on Charlotte's bed.

A very blurry shot of Samantha's cabinet. There are some unidentified polishes, a MAC lipstick, and what appears to be high-end skincare. Anybody recognize it? EDIT: A helpful reader has pointed out that the jar might be Clarins. Thanks, Basille!

Carrie applying some of her clear gloss. I thought this was MAC Clear Gloss, but Makeup411 suggests that it's actually the Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear tube gloss, which looks uber-similar in terms of packaging.

This will always and forever be my favorite makeup sighting: Kevyn Aucoin's cameo in the episode "The Real Me." I don't think his line was launched just yet, but I've been told that the  red-packaged items are KA prototypes. You can also see one of Kevyn's books and his trademark Polaroid shots, plus Q-tips and a pot of La Mer face cream.

Carrie's bejeweled panties, plus some NARS loose powder, a few polishes, and some lotion. Seriously, those nail polishes are KILLING me! Anybody recognize the bottles?

A quick shot of Miranda's sink. There's a NARS lipstick and what may be a Laura Mercier compact, though it's hard to see.

Perfumes!

Carrie rushing out for a date. The Elizabeth Arden gloss is on the table, plus another one of those white-tube lipsticks and a lip or eye liner.

A back shot of Carrie's bathroom table. You can catch a glimpse of her NARS loose powder off to the right. EDIT: Bertie says that these black-capped nail polishes are by Delux Beauty. Thanks, Bertie!

Samantha applying a nude chubby pencil sort of lipstick. Again with that white packaging...I feel like these "simple white packaging" items are from a brand I don't generally use.

Some Philosophy hair spray and a Clinique bar soap.

Part of Samantha's retail therapy after her bad breakup includes a visit to Paula Dorf.

Charlotte writing on her mirror with a perfectly good red lipstick (!!!).

Carrie patting on some lip color from a silver compact. I couldn't catch the logo, but I think it might be Laura Mercier or Paula Dorf.

The spread during Carrie's book cover photoshoot. The products appear to be almost all MAC.

Samantha applying Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream to her traumatized skin.

Charlotte dabbing on what is most likely a NARS lip lacquer to look extra-cute in front of her (first) divorce lawyer.

Miranda's surprisingly basic skincare includes Vaseline and baby oil. EDIT: According to Claire, the blue and white bottles are Mustela, high-end brand baby products. Thanks!

Another shot of Miranda's bathroom. Anybody recognize these products?

Miranda's tower-o-skincare from another angle. I definitely recognize some Kiehl's products.

A vanity shot. What beautiful skincare and perfume bottles!

Vanity: Becca

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

Becca, Student/Teacher

I had a babysitter when I was probably 2 or 3 who wore a ton of makeup, very early nineties stuff, and because she looked so different from my mostly au-naturel mom, it was very interesting. She let me play with her brushes, and would (with mom’s permission, of course) slap some lipstick on me; then we would play “ladies.” Mom also got me the little Tinkerbell play makeup. My dresser at my mom’s house still has the pink peel-off nail polish soaked into the wood, and my favorite stuffed bunny has lipstick stains on its mouth 20 years later. And my older sisters got into makeup when I was about 5 or 6, and they thought it was hilarious to put makeup on me and take pictures with me. I got all of their mostly used-up lipsticks and eyeshadows.

I spend a lot of my money for "extras" on beauty products, but price-wise, I’m pretty firmly in the mid-end category. If I could buy all high-end, I’m not sure I would. Sure, I would splurge on some things, but my favorite brow pencil is Clinique, and a lot of my favorite skincare in the past has been drugstore. I am a pasty, pasty lady, so MAC Face & Body foundation is one of my favorite products because it comes in White. It’s also sits well on my dry skin. Bobbi Brown Skin foundation qualifies as well, shade-wise, but I’m not sure why I haven’t bought this yet. My inner Bobbi Brown aversion must be strong. The hunt for the perfect foundation consumes me. Some very evil people have shown me the lovely that is Rouge Bunny Rouge, and that’s gonna be an expensive endeavor. The Shiseido lash curler completely changed my opinion of lash curling. Now I can’t live without it, because it actually fits my eye shape and gives me a good curl. I also appreciate a good metal lash comb (I use Sephora’s) because I hate clumps, and MAC Strada blush, which will be replaced with Illamasqua Primal if I can find it. I contour every day. I’ve used up a couple of things, a foundation and mascaras. The simple reason I don’t hit pan on anything is ADD. I can’t wear the same thing all the time, it would be so boring!

My ideal nighttime skincare routine involves oil cleanser, rinse, toner, two or three serums, eye serum, night cream, and eye cream. (Luckily, I get a lot of stuff gratis; otherwise, I wouldn’t nearly use so much!) My usual nighttime routine is:

1. Put pack of makeup wipes on bedside table.
2. Climb into bed and remember I didn’t take my makeup off.
3. Try to find wipes in the dark.
4. Scrub.
5. Throw makeup wipe towards garbage can.
6. Fall asleep.

I’m ashamed.

 My big problem is collecting. As far as make-up goes, if I get part of a collection/brand/etc, I NEED the rest of it. See: Sleek palettes/blushes, Wet n Wild palettes, Revlon Lip Butters, Clinique Chubby Sticks... I love chasing things down and finally getting what I wanted. Apparently, I played Pokemon at an impressionable age. I also collect books, wine glasses, and jewelry. I begin student teaching in January, so I guess grading papers will become a hobby.

I love history and languages, even though I don’t speak any well. I’m a certified rescue scuba diver and I’m considering becoming an instructor or at least a divemaster. I’ll move to Aruba. I love taking pictures, but I wouldn’t say I’m a photographer. I’m obsessed with my dog!

 This project is greatly indebted to the Top Shelf section of IntoTheGloss.com, which was my inspiration, and to every beautiful person who participates. This article has been slightly modified for clarity and length.

Beauty Sightings: Sex and the City, seasons 2 and 3

I've already expressed my feelings on Sex and the City as a whole right over here, so let's skip my strong opinions and move on to two seasons of fun beauty sightings.

Miranda borrows a NARS Lip Lacquer pot from Carrie.

Carrie's got some grab-and-go products on her table. I think the black compact is a MAC powder, and it's hard for me to see what the white tube is, but Carrie DOES use what appears to be the MAC Clear Gloss very regularly.

Carrie applies some nude lip liner on the go...

...then tops it with MAC Clear Gloss. This isn't the same shot, but it's the same product.

I LOVE Sam's powder compact, although I don't recognize it or her cracker-like powder puff. Anybody?

A shot of Carrie's bathroom. You can see her Clinique and Kiehl's skincare...anybody recognize the other products?

Carrie's medicine cabinet. A pot of Nivea cream sticks out to me,  but I can't place the rest.

Carrie applying mascara.

A shot of some of the products Carrie leaves in Big's apartment, including Clinique makeup remover and moisturizer.

Anybody recognize this? Is it more Clinique?

EDIT: According to a random search I did on Makeup411, this is more likely the Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear Gloss, not the MAC Gloss. Good to know!

A Chanel Joues Contraste blush. Anybody recognize the silver lipstick tube? And is that red-handled brush Smashbox?

I'm terrible with nail polish, so if anybody recognizes nail stuff, please let me know!

Carrie applying Carmex...

....then some NARS Lip Lacquer. Clearly, Carrie is a fan of both  potted lip products and NARS goodies. ;)

Another shot of Carrie's bathroom table. Is that cream with the black lid Ponds?

What brand is that perfume on Samantha's vanity--is it Estee Lauder?

The ladies visit a Helena Rubenstein salon.

Another shot of Samantha's vanity. I definitely see an Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream product, but I'm not quite sure if it's the face moisturizer or the extra-large size of the original cream (which I remember Samantha using).

A shot of Miranda's products. You can't really recognize anything, but I don't get a lot of Miranda beauty sightings, so I really wanted to post this.

Carrie, the ultimate NARS fan.

Charlotte and Carrie at a nail salon. I think one of the polishes is OPI.

The ladies applying their products in the bathroom. Miranda's silver-tubed mascara is the most obvious item here.

No discernible label on Samantha's gloss, but it's super-pretty and seems to have a brush-tip applicator.

Carrie applying a brush-tip gloss, possibly old-school Stila, and Charlotte using a NARS Lip Lacquer pot.

Miranda using a Kiehl's moisturizer. I think it might be the Creme de Corps formula.

It's almost impossible to catch a screenshot of this gloss, but I'm 95% sure it's MAC.

A nail polish and possibly another product on the top shelf, and some pink-tinted moisturizer on the bottom right-hand portion of the picture. EDIT: Flyushkifly noticed a Diptyque on the left side of this picture. Thanks!

Miranda applying a beautiful MAC lipstick.

Charlotte's vanity. I think the skincare with the white cap is Elizabeth Arden, and there's some Chanel loose powder I couldn't get a shot of, plus what appears to be a Chanel liquid foundation. EDIT: The white tear-drop shaped perfume bottle is Boucheron Parfum Initial--thanks, Fin-de-siecle!