31 Days {Day 28} Minimal Makeup

I've always just had all my makeup out in the open or in my drawer so I could see all my selections.  Lately though, I just want to do the same thing every day.  I want to only have the things in front of me that work which means no experimenting and more saving time.  So I took a small selection of my makeup and I put the rest away.

I didn't do this for my Project 10 Pan, in fact it is sort of my rebellion from it.  After so long of trying to use up items whether I liked them or not, I thought, life is too short to be using colors I don't like right now.  So I selected exactly the combination that I loved the most, whether they are almost gone or not.  There will still be time later to use up or give away the other items, but today I carpe diem.

These are all my favorite products of the moment and produce a very simplified routine for me.

1.  Concealer:  Since I ran out, I am using my long forgotten Pan-Stik foundation for under my eyes and around my nose.  I forgot how much I love this!  They have stopped selling it in drugstores, but I can still buy it here.

2.  Powder:  Nars loose powder in Snow.  I use a brush and dust this all over my face.  When I use the PanStik, I don't need an all over foundation.

3.  Blush:  Laura Mercier tint in Filtered Brown.  It is the ugliest color name ever for the most perfect rose brown.  It's my favorite blush for my fair skin.  It was also another long forgotten one that I'm happy I found again.

4.  Eyeshadow compacts:  I'm using a combination of two.  One is an old Mac quad called Tempt Me Tease Me.  I use all the colors except the green.  The other is a basic Bobbi Brown compact with Bone, Blonde and Smoke and I use all three colors.  The BB is such great quality, very silky.

5.  Mascara:  I'm using Opulash by Mac right now.  I didn't feel like ordering from 100% pure so I got this in a pinch.  It's a tubes mascara and I like it.

6.  Lip Liner:  Laura Mercier in Chesnut.  It's a little dark but it's almost gone so I'll carry on using it for now.

7.  Lipstick:  Mac Twig and Mac Spice is Nice.  One is almost gone and one is new.

8.  Lip Gloss:  Revlon Super Lustrous in Pink Whisper.  I really love these lip glosses.  There isn't any better at any price that I have tried.  I also have the same formula in Foiled in my purse.

9.  Eye Primer:  Laura Mercier eye basics in Peach.  This is really nice.  I had also neglected this in favor of my Mac Painterly Paint Pot, but I prefer this.

Update:  10.  Eye Liner:  Mac fluid liner in Dipdown.  I can't believe I forgot this one as I look so tired without it!

That is my everyday makeup routine.  I am still trying to use up products but I like not having too many options in my drawer.  I started to feel overwhelmed with all those colors-ha ha-first world problems!!  I have so much Mac, but as I figured out what would be my perfect routine for right now very little was Mac.  I feel like I got seduced into buying all these different colors to collect them, or I heard someone just loved them so much that I had to have it.  Once you take away the "sell" from a product, you are left with what actually looks good on you.  I'm happy to have this figured out for now.

How about you?  What is your makeup routine?  Do you have yours in a bag, in a drawer or maybe a storage chest?  What are your long forgotten but now favorite products?  I love writing about girly stuff!

Updates and 50% off Nars Cosmetics!

Sheez.  It's really been a long time since I posted.  I guess I've had writer's block or just altogether block.  Right before Thanksgiving my sweet Grandfather unexpectedly passed away. We got our things together and left for NC the next morning.  We had to drive since we couldn't put Keegan in the kennel on a Sunday.  We drove almost the whole way and had to stop and stay the night in Atlanta.  It is a 17 hour drive.  

Since it was the week before Thanksgiving, we just took the time off to spend with my family. It was lovely to see them since I normally only see them once a year.  There is nothing like visiting family to put things in perspective.  They are the most important part of life.  

Now we are headed to Puerto Rico to visit G's family for two weeks.  We leave on Christmas Day at 5:30 in the morning!  It is going to be great to see them too.  Being in Puerto Rico for Christmas and New Year's is quite an experience.  The food is so good that I'm bound to gain another 5 pounds.  Cafe con leche and quesitos, here I come!  If you've never visited PR, you must go.  The people are so friendly and of course it's sunny, warm and the island has so much to offer; the beach, the rainforest and well, the food!

But hey, I'm not writing to give you a travel guide.  I wanted to tell you about my latest obsession, Nars cosmetics.  Of course I discovered certain Nars products years ago like Orgasm blush and Dolce Vita lipstick, but now I've ventured into their eyeshadow and foundation.  

Recently I got the Best Palette from Nordstrom and it is so perfect for a neutral, pretty eye. Here is a picture.  It has the famous duo All About Eve, Kalahari duo and Bellisima I inside. I've been using Mac shadows for awhile but I think that Nars is certainly a step above in quality. 

If you have a local Nordstrom, they are giving out a free eye shadow or gloss with $75 purchase. I always end up buying myself something at Christmas because I'm out there shopping more than normal!  Yesterday I decided to try their foundation because they added a lighter color to the line.  I got the firming foundation in Siberia.  I wore my Cover Girl foundation on one side and the Nars on the other.  To be honest, the Cover Girl held it's own, but the Nars "melted" a little less and smoothed into my skin better.  We'll see if it is worth the pricetag or not.  I also got this three pack of lip gloss duos.  I adore their lipgloss.  I like Mac lip gloss too, but Nars colors really work well with my pigmented lips.  I am a sucker for a set because I like to experiment and try out different colors.  

OK, if you've never tried Nars and want a good deal, I have a little present for you.  There is a store in Massachusetts called Beauty and Main that is discontinuing their Nars line.  One of the stores has collected all the inventory and is selling all Nars products at 50% off!  This is a perfect chance to try one of their crazy color duos, or try a new lipstick color.  They still have a lot left, but you'll have to call to order.  The number is 781-237-1685 and you can speak to Natalie or Emily.  They are very helpful and it's free shipping with orders over $75.00--see update below.  

Update:  Emily just emailed me and said since the Nars on on sale that the shipping will be $9, which is still a deal girls!

I got the Kilimanjaro duo, the Persepolis duo, Miss Sadie lipliner, Vagabond lip lacquer and two Sabrina lip treatments.  That is a lot of stuff I know, which is why I called it my Nars obssession.  Remember that post a long time ago about how I only wanted to have a little basket of makeup?  I'm thinking that is not going to happen.

When I was at home in NC, I got together with my Aunt Delores for coffee.  I give her the credit for starting me on my lipstick addiction.  She used to give me little baskets with all kinds of lipsticks that she had tried and didn't work for her.  As a teenager who couldn't afford to buy a lot of makeup, I loved it!  So after coffee, we both pulled out our lipgloss to put on after we finished.  I wanted to show her my colors and ended up pulling out about 12 lipsticks and glosses.  Can you have too many?  I don't think so.  She had about the same amount which is why I love her so!!! You gotta love a girly-girl!

I know this is quite a rambling post, but I wanted to get on here and tell you about the Nars sale and let you know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

How To Get Free Chanel Mascara

No strings attached!  A while ago I became an Allure Expert.  The rundown is that certain companies like Chanel will send you a new product to try either before they go on the market or as they are launching.  Your only obligation is to use it and give them feedback.  I try not to think about the human guinea pig perspective and say "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

All you have to do is sign up at Allure Experts.  It's free stuff and no coupon clipping.  

Free Gift with No Purchase

I usually never win anything.  When there are door prizes I don't even get the little thrill when they are calling out the numbers.  Maybe I have low expectations or maybe I prefer to be really surprised if I would win something.  Well I have won something and I was surprised!

To some it may sound insignificant, but to me it's a that thrill that you can only have when coupled with low expectations.            Jolie Nadine had a Clinique contest and I won the new Lash Power Mascara.  I just received the package from Clinique with a lovely handwritten note wishing me a summer of beautiful, clump-free lashes!  And they sent me a staple color-Black.

I feel so loved today!  We are heading to South Padre Island and Mexico this weekend for Memorial Day.  I hope your weekend is blessed with an unexpected surprise too!

If you don't know who Jolie Nadine is, she is a very funny cosmetics writer.  She wrote this book which I recommend for an amusing afternoon at the beach.  Only certain people can endlessly read about cosmetics and I am one of them.  

Julia's Basket of Self-Knowledge

Julia, my Maid of Honor and Kindred Spirit, and me

Once upon a time there was a young woman, me, who fell in love with a couple of pink chairs from Mitchell Gold.  While I was at the annual market sale deciding if they were too frivolous for reality, I met another young woman, Julia.  She was working that day, only for the special market sale and she was helping me with my pink chair dilemma.  I was with my aunt and as Julia walked away I said "That girl is me."  She dresses likes me, thinks like me and I had this uncanny feeling that we must be kindred spirits.  I got her email and even though we lived two hours apart we became friends.  She came to visit me in Greenville, SC.  I stayed with her in Hickory, NC.  We talked of trips to Italy.  She was the Maid of Honor in my wedding.  She is a friend that I can be totally honest with no matter how awful it sounds coming out.  I love those kind of friends because I always wanted a sister and this is the closest experience that I could have to that.

One weekend I was staying at her lovely, impeccably decorated and Mitchell Gold outfitted home and I noticed something in her bathroom.  It was a basket.  It had lotion, eye shadow, maybe a lipstick, and very few other things.  Curious, I asked her about the basket full of very few potion bottles in her bathroom.  She said those were all that she had.  A bottle of lotion, one eyeshadow (not even a palette!), ONE LIPSTICK, and maybe a blush that she didn't really use.  I shudder as I write this as I remember the truth dawning on me that my soul-friend could have so little in the way of makeup and potion bottles.  Mine tends to be under the sink, on top of the sink, in storage bins, taking up drawer space, in my purse, and on top of the dresser. Julia seriously only buys one color lipstick and she keeps buying it over and over.  Another shock to me because I have a hard time with repeat buying.  There are so many others to try!

Having said all that, this little basket has been my inspiration ever since I laid eyes on it.  Yes, I have bought baskets to emulate it only to have them overflowing in a short time.  I do console myself and Gustavo when I point out to him how much LESS I have than I used to have. Remember that linen closet in my condo?  It was full.  Remember the apartment after that?  It was only the full length under the double sink vanity.  Now, only under my sink and a small drawer in the closet, er and a small storage container and ok on top of the sink.  Oh, I forgot about the little baskets I bought at Ikea last week, but to be fair they do have mouthwash and necessary potions in them too.

No matter the present or past circumstances, I keep my eye on the prize.  Every free gift with purchase that I pass by is a coup for me.  These are little samples and full size products that won't be cluttering up my space.  Nordstrom having a free gift with purchase right now does not phase me when I keep my eye on the prize.  Although, if I do study the contents of the gift it does make me falter slightly as I carefully analyze to see if I will actually like the gift and if I actually do need to order something.  That is always a mistake.  That is why they say keep your eye on the goal, and not the anti-goal.  

One time when Julia spent the weekend with me, I scheduled makeovers for us at Chanel.  This was our first visit together and before I knew about the basket.  After the makeover I deliberated what I was going to get and ended up with an eyeshadow palette and an eyeliner. Julia didn't succumb to the temptation.  She didn't seem all that impressed either.  She is so strong in her makeup convictions that I envy her that.  Me, if my eyes meet the makeup artist and I see she has a willing spirit, I am up on her chair so fast it will make your head spin.  "Can I try our new colors on you?" is music to my ears.  Just a few days ago I had a Bobbi Brown makeover and discovered that now I need their new CLC lipstick in Rose Petal and maybe the foundation too.

One day I am going to achieve the goal of simplicity in my makeup and skincare routine.  I know it because I have made great strides in not being tempted by so many things.  I "just say no" quite often to Sephora Insider rewards, to many, many gift with purchases, to spontaneous makeup purchases and to kits that are a good deal but that have items I don't need in them.  I know that I am a makeup addict and even though it's "cool" to be that when you are perusing blogs and reading magazines, I think it's much cooler to know what you want and get that.  To me, that is what the basket represents.  It is a streamlined knowledge of who you are and most importantly who you are not.  

Nordstrom Houston Galleria Trend Event

If you are in the Houston area, there is a really cool event coming up on October 20th at Houston Galleria's Nordstrom. At 8:00 am before the store opens they are having a fashion show with all of fall's latest. The cosmetics department is joining in with a free train case full of samples. Also, you can sign up with the makeup counter of your choice for a free makeover. Each counter also may have a gift with purchase.

The tickets are $15.00 and redeemable towards product. I know that I'm going to finally get the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder that I've been wish listing for awhile now. The number is 832-201-2700 to order your ticket.