NYX Micro Brow Pencil

Well, it's certainly been a very long time since I've made any posts on this blog. I've been going through some big life changes and adjustments in goals. My beauty stash has also undergone a downsizing as I try to live my life by "need instead of want." However, some essentials will always stay put in my make up collection, such as the brow pencil below.

Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist

So California is really having a drought summer. San Francisco has also been experiencing summer weather way earlier than usual. I grew up expecting hot weather in late September so I've just been melting in the heat. All this sun has been making me really aware of the need for sun protection and so I've been looking for a way to have it while I wear make up.

I've been hearing about setting sprays with SPF that allows for reapplication on top of make up, but I have been really wary since I have sensitive eyes and you can't avoid the area with a spray. So far, I haven't heard about any affordable options yet and I only know of Supergoop! and Coola. Of course the price tag kept me from giving both brands a go, until I saw a travel sized version of the Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist. For the convenience of the size I figured I could part with $12.

L'oreal Voluminous Butterfly Midnight

  

I will admit, I'm a total mascara junkie. I can live without eyeliner but my makeup look will feel incomplete without mascara and curled lashes. So of course with a 40% off sale going on for NYX and L'oreal products, I was browsing the mascaras since I loved both the Miss Manga Eyes ones so much I wondered about the others that L'oreal was releasing.

NYX Tres Jolie Gel Pencil Liner

So many liners it's getting harder to see the differences! Today I have another one that might just bump the NYX Slide-On and Rimmel Scandal Eyes pencils out of the running for me. At least for the black and brown shades. I was super tempted to just pick up both shades, but limited myself to brown because I don't have a brown liner anymore and hadn't replaced it yet.

What's in My Las Vegas Makeup Bag - Carry On Friendly

I'm the type of person that packs pretty lightly on trips and whenever possible, I limit myself to only carry on luggage. In fact, for my recent trip to Las Vegas, I honestly think that my duffle bag (which counted as the carry on) was smaller than my tote bag (my personal item).

So with all the things I wanted to pack, I definitely didn't want my makeup items to take up a bunch of space when I had other essentials that I wanted to take with me. Plus, since I was doing the whole carry on only route, I was also limited to the 3 oz. liquids in a quart sized zip closing bag. I dislike waiting for my luggage at the carousel, but I'm not so sure my logic is sound considering the limitations I encounter with only bringing carry on luggage.

In the photograph above, are all the products I took with me for my makeup routine, while in Vegas.

e.l.f. Studio Blush Palette

I've been really loving blush palettes lately. I just think they're so convenient. I love being able to travel with multiple blushes at once without having singles just floating around in my makeup bag. Granted, I don't own an excessive number of blush palettes, since I did have to be realistic about how much blush I actually need (which in truth, I have more than I should already).

Nail of the Day

Really, I should just be calling this Nail of the Week, considering I usually wear my polish for a week before changing it out.

So...more flowers!

EcoTools: Correcting Concealer Brush

To be honest, I don't own any decent concealing brushes at all, I have a few flat ones, but for the purpose of blending, they were not the right brush for the job. I had also resorted to using my fluffy blending brush for shadows, but then I was down an eye brush.

So when I saw this one for $4.99 at Ulta, I figured I'd give it a try to see how it worked. The price was right and I like using synthetic brushes for concealer and foundation.