Monthly Favorites: May

Many products (skincare, haircare, foundation etc) are staple to me so I won't bother you again (you can always read about them here ) so, here are some items that I really enjoyed using this month.

In my shower, strawberry is the scent! One thing I don't get about TBS shower gels is why they don't come with a pump (or why they don't sell one separately) so, I removed the pump from a backup body lotion I have and placed it on the shower gel bottle. Perrrrrfect!

As for perfume, I am head over heels in love with the Jo Malone Sweet Lemon cologne I got at the Estée Lauder bazaar. It's fresh, it's sweet but with an edge, it's there but not in your face, I just love it (and got many compliments wearing it!)

I also used quite a bit of the Vitamin E Face Mist by TBS. It was in the goodies bag that we were given at the TBS bloggers' event (you can read all about it here ). When I return home from work I don't take off my makeup right away, so one spritz of the Face Mist on top gives my skin freshness and hydration. I still love my Mac Fix + but I use this one in the morning, after completing my makeup (and I keep a mini bottle in my purse at all times).

As for makeup, I've been mostly sporting coral/peach cheeks with lips in accordance and minimal eyeshadow. I was up since 6:30 in the morning everyday for work (I'm currently working at another location of my company - well, not MY company but you get the point, lol! - that's on the other side of Athens and I won't return to my basis for another week...) so, I didn't feel like doing much eyeshadow work.

I mostly used the Clarins Coral Tonic and the Tarte Blissful blushes, apart from being really pretty they also survive 11+ hours on my cheeks.

My YSL Glossy Stains have become everyday staples since I got them but this month I mostly used #7 and #12 because they fit into my coral/peach scheme. I also used Morange by Mac, a tiny bit with a lip brush over well moisturizer lips.

Morange, YSL #7 and #12

For eyes, my staple was Nubile paintpot by Mac because it is darker than my skintone so it defines my eyes in a natural, barely there way.

When I felt like putting a little extra on top, I used Pearl #390 by Inglot or Stilife paint by Mac or the champaign color from TBS Moonstone eyeshadow. Just a wash of color, nothing dramatic or complicated.

The rest of my favorites are miscellaneous:

• Garnier roll on concealer. I have this for some time but now that i'm a tiny bit darker, it suits my skintone better. I really like its thin consistency and the way it feels under my eyes.
• Bourjois eye brow pencil #4. Although I loved the Fling mechanical eyebrow pencil by Mac, it run out very quickly, so I decided to buy again this old time favorite.
• Prunella kohl eye pencil by Mac. I use this one everyday on my upper waterline, it's such an intricate color because it's not black, neither brown, nor plum, I really can't describe it.
• When I felt really adventurous, I used Undercurrent on my lower lash line, a tiny bit of this with Nubile on the lid gives an interesting twist to a nude look.
• Saunter lip pencil by Mac is the only nude lip color I have and I'm really liking it!
• Shore Leave is another lip pencil by Mac, this one is pinky-coral and used it quite a bit.

Here are some swatches

That's it for May favorites, June had better be warm because I have some aqua and teals to sport!

 

Belated Mac haul post

You already know how much I enjoyed the christmas collections by Mac.
Here you can see my relevant posts
Part 1
Part 2

There where also a couple of items that I wanted but, due to a weird Mac policy, where not available in Greece.

These items where the Snowglobe beauty powder and the Let's Skate paintpot and as soon as I saw that they wouldn't be available here, I ordered them from allcosmeticswholesale . The price with shipping was very close to the actual cost of the relevant products that where sold here in store.

Snowglobe is a gorgeous, finely milled shimmery powder that can be used as a highlight or as an all over powder for a night out because it is very sheer and delicate and gives the skin a very pretty glow without looking like I just moved in from fairyland ( LOL!)

Let's Skate paintpot was a purchase against reason for me since I'm not a paintpot collector because of the product's short term life. There 's no way I will finish such a product in 6 months, so I always use one paintpot at a time (currently Painterly). But when I saw swatches of Let's Skate I knew I had to have it, it's unlike any paintpot I have seen so far! It's light pink with gold shimmer/glitter, and the funny part is that I hadn't even opened the pot until last night that I decided to use it! I almost screamed from joy, because it really is soooo pretty, it gives such a beautiful glow and light to the lids, I also used a bit on the browbone, in one word, gorgeous! I also noticed that when used under an eyeshadow it retains the sparkle but in a more subtle way, so it will be perfect for everyday use on the lids.

Last item that I purchased was something that I had seen in store but at that point decided not to buy and after a few days, when I realized it was sold out, I was hit by a "why didn't I buy this?" remorse ( LOL!).
When I bought the Cool face kit I had seen the Frost face kit as well, I spent quite some time debating if I should purchase this kit as well or not (I liked the palette very much) and reason prevailed (it rarely happens!) so I only got the Cool kit.
After a few days the Frost kit was sold out, so I thought to check eBay although I never purchase Mac stuff on eBay, it's too much a risk to me. And guess what? I found that there was a girl that was auctioning the Frost palette alone! I checked her feedback, it was 100%, she had sold various things and all her buyers said that the item they had purchased was as described. I carefully read the description for the palette and she was saying that the palette was 100% authentic and she hadn't even swatched it, she had purchased the kit but didn't want the palette. So I took the plunge and bid for it, and I actually got it, at a very reasonable price ( I think it cost me $37 with priority shipping). It goes without saying that until I received it I was really anxious about the condition of the item, but then I thought that I would disinfect it anyway, so, no harm done even if she had swatched it.
Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was untouched, in perfect condition! That doesn't mean that I will take this risk again on ebay for a Mac product, but, this particular risk was a total success!

So, here is a photo of my last christmas haul

And here is a pitiful swatch attempt, I would suggest google if you want to see accurate swatches of any of the mentioned products (LOL!).
At the bottom you can (not) see the Snowglobe beauty powder, then the four eye shadows and the blush and on the left you can (not) see the Let's Skate paint pot.

Hope you're all well and thriving!

EOTD and a new eyeshadow!

Today I played a little with a new eyeshadow, Cypress Green #49 by Korres, already depoted and put into my "random" eyeshadow palette:

Cypress Green is a medium-dark cool green, and coming autumn I thought it would be ideal for a fall look.
I used it with Short Shorts and Sun Blonde, both eyeshadows by Mac (you can see them HERE) and I did two variations : one more subtle and one more intense and smokey. In both variations, I used it with a light hand because I didn't want it too dark, so bare in mind that it is actually much darker and intense than you see it in the following photos.

1st variation

Cypres Green: outer corner, crease and under the eye
Sun Blonde: lid
Short Shorts: inner corner and brow bone
I also used a hint of Moleskin to blend the upper part of the crease.
It doesn't really show here but it's a discreet but polished daytime look, perfect for work (minus the mascara accident, lol)!

2nd variation

Cypres Green: lid (except the middle of it), crease, under the eye
Sun Blonde: in the middle of the lid
Short Shorts: brow bone
I also used a hint of Moleskin to blend the upper part of the crease.
This look is more vibrant but not too intense, I can wear it in daytime when I want a little more emphasis on the eyes.

I also used Mac Painterly paint pot, Avenue fluidline and Benefit They're Real mascara in both looks.

So that's my eye of the day, I know you can't really tell because I suck in taking this kind of photos, but, I thought to share it with you nevertheless!

What's your most used fall color?