My April update! (Grab a snack!)
Purchased: $274.37 for the month; $355 for the year (with no spending in March)
I went on a MAC splurge:
24-Hour Extend Eye Base- Enjoying this so far, after using UD Eyeshadow Primer Potion for years.
Cleanse Off Oil- After using up the sample I got in an order several months ago, I had to pick up the full size. It feels so nice to remove makeup with oil compared to wipes or micellar water.
Face & Body Foundation- This is my 3rd time buying F&B, and this time I got C6 instead of the usual C7. There's a definite difference in shade color, but blended into the skin (and on the neck/jawline) there's no notable difference. I enjoy using this mixed with the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (Liquid) in Topaz. It leaves a healthy, golden glow to the skin.
Lip Conditioner- I got this purely based on the website reviews. So far, I like it. I keep it in my makeup bag but still use my Vaseline at night during my nighttime skincare routine.
Lipglass- I've used C-Thru and Oh Baby in the past, and decided to try Spite. It leaves a nice wash of color on the lips and is a dupe for the Milani lipgloss I used up this month.
Next To Nothing Face Colour and Pressed Powder (Medium Deep)- I read that the power runs a little light, so I'm glad I got Medium Deep. I was considered that I would have to exchange Medium Deep for Dark in the Face Colour, but so far it matches nicely. I really like the Face Colour with the Topaz Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, alone with the pressed power, or over F&B. Between the two, the powder is the standout and actual has more coverage. I have a section of hyper pigmentation on my left cheek from a past breakout, and the power completely covers it.
Fix+ - I need to stop going months in between repurchasing this. Makeup looks so much nicer with Fix+.
Prep+Prime Skin Base Visage- After using up the sample I got a few months ago, I decided to buy the full size. Goes on smooth and my foundation lays nicely on top.
Upward Lash Mascara- This was a "YouTube Made Me Buy It" purchase, and I'm liking it so far. Elongates and darkens my lashes, so much that they appear fluttery. You can feel the wand griping the bottom of the lashes, and I like that I can this on my top and lower lashes.
Used Up
I didn't have an intense focus on using up products compared to last month:
Becca Backlight Priming Filter- My favorite out of all the primers I've used. Love the subtle glow it gives and foundation glides on smoothly. Wouldn't mind repurchasing in the future.
MAC Zoom Lash Mascara (sample)- Really enjoyed this, and I was surprised that I got several weeks use out of this sample. Really elongates and darkens the lashes, and the wand was nice to work with. I wouldn't mind buying a full size after I'm done with the Upward Lash.
MUFE Mist & Fix- This does what it's supposed to in terms of keeping makeup on the face, but it always looked like it just sat on my skin. Wouldn't repurchase.
Milani Brillant Shine Lipgloss in Bare Secret- I think I may have been lurking on Specktra in the Beauty of Color section years ago and saw this as a recommended nude gloss color for women of color. I really enjoyed using it and was happy to be done with it since I've had for almost 4-5 years. It's a dead-on dupe for Spite. Now that I have Spite, I won't repurchase this.
UD Eyeshadow Primer Potion- Until now, this has been the only eyeshadow primer I've ever used. Glad it's done because It's been in my collection for a number of years now. Now that I have the 24-Hour Extend Eye Base, I probably won't repurchase this.
Decluttered:
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder- This is the second time I've purchased this in the travel size, and it hurts my heart to toss out. I used this to set my under eye concealer, but over the past few months I noticed that that area, and the area around my nose, were more cakey and my pores were more pronounced. Even after using Fix+ and the MUFE Mist & Fix. I did a process of elimination and realized that this was a culprit. And I don't like to bake under the eye at all. Plus, I'm over the super-bright under eye look. I've thought about getting the medium deep version of this powder but based on swatches, the power is a shade darker than my skin tone. Won't repurchase.
MAC False Lashes Extreme Black and In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Mascaras (samples)- There was hardly anything in the sample tubes for me to develop an opinion on.
MAC Lipliners in Chestnut and Ruby Woo- I've had Chestnut for years and it still looks brand new. I hardly used it and would reach for Cork more. As far as the Ruby Woo liner, I only got it (and Whirl) because I wanted liners to match the lipsticks I have. Whirl is nice to use under Spite or with the Lip Conditioner or Vaseline, so it makes sense to keep that. But when I wear Ruby Woo (the lipstick), I would use either Cork or Night Moth, so having it in the liner form was pointless. Won't repurchase either.
MAC Studio Waterweight SPF Foundation- After fighting with this foundation for almost a year, I've decided to toss it. I had less than a quarter left in the bottle, but rinsed it out and put it in my B2M bag. NC45 was my skin tone, but this oxidized 1-2 shades after a few hours. Plus, it clung onto the dry patches on my skin (chin, cheeks). Between the Beauty Blender and a regular brush I could never figure out the best way to apply it. Won't repurchase.
Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask to Quench Skin's Thirst- I've had this for 3 years, and Origins masks tend to expire after 2, so it was time to toss. There was less than a quarter left. Also, with all the masks I've been using up, this one was always on the back burner. I tried to use up as much as I could this month but I didn't want to force myself to use a product I no longer liked. Won't repurchase.
Highlights & Next Month's Goals
I think one of my goals for this month was to work on my smokey eye, which I did not do. But I unofficially put the Naked 2 palette on the chopping block. I used all the shades, with Foxy being the one I used to set my eyeshadow primer. Interestingly, this palette is the most neutral of all the Naked palettes on my skin tone. On my skin tone, you can tell I have on eyeshadows from this palette, but everything blends together so nicely that it could be undetectable at times. I can't really explain it. It's a keeper for now.
Also, my winged liner is still going strong. The ELF Expert Liquid Liner still gets the job done, but I'm interested in checking out other liners (liquid and cream) once I'm done with it. Today, I used the tape trick to get a precise wing and I really like it. I want to get to the point where I be precise every time without the aid of tape.
Lastly, because I purchased so much from MAC, I decided not to participate in the VIB sale. Everything on my Loves list right now can be bought later in the year. Plus, all of the MAC items I bought were items I've been dying to try out or repurchase.
For May, I'll work on using up more products and really focus on the smokey eye. May will be a NO-BUY month.
SaveSave
I don't wear much makeup but have practiced low-buying for a number of years. I'd love to join in, if you'd have me. I'll follow the format I've seen on other pages, and will update when I finish something - preferably full size, but will also update when I've finished 5 samples as I'm trying to clear them out as well. Here goes!
